KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – A former Western Michigan University student has been found guilty of two charges in the November 2021 death of fellow WMU student Bailey Broderick.
20-year-old Hunter Hudgins Friday afternoon was found guilty of operating a motor vehicle while visually impaired causing death, and operating a motor vehicle when less of the age of 21 while having any bodily alcohol content.
The Kalamazoo County Circuit Court jury found he was not guilty of committing a moving traffic violation causing death.
The 19-year-old Broderick was hit by Hudgens as she attempted to cross Fraternity Village Drive near Michigan Avenue. She later died at the hospital.
In testimony for the defense Thursday, a crash reconstructionist said Hudgins had just one second to react before hitting Broderick.
The prosecution presented evidence Wednesday that Hudgins underwent blood tests at Bronson Hospital three hours after the fatal crash. Those tests showed he had a blood alcohol content of .048%, which is less than legally drunk, but a toxicologist estimated during the actual time of the crash Hudgins blood alcohol level was near .078% to .094%.
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