Devin A. Slusher was driving north on Cartwright Road around 8 p.m. on Feb. 18 when he lost control of his Chevy Silverado pickup truck on a curve near Peaceful Cove Lane.
The truck flipped over and went off the side of the road. The front seat passenger, 18-year-old Cole Winchester of Kuna, was thrown from the truck and badly injured. He was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.
Paramedics took Winchester to a nearby hospital, where he died as a result of injuries he sustained in the crash later that night.
Slusher told investigators he, Winchester, and some other friends were on their way back from skiing at Bogus Basin. Slusher also admitted to drinking a few Corona beers while he was at Bogus.
Deputies detected the smell of alcohol on Slusher’s breath and noticed he had glassy bloodshot eyes. Slusher failed two of the three sobriety field tests and provided a blood sample for later review.
Deputies informed Slusher of pending charges and released to the custody of his parents.
The results of the blood draw later revealed Slusher he had a .05 blood alcohol content (BAC) level at the time of the crash. Investigators also determined excessive speed was a factor in the crash.
Investigators sent crash reports and evidence to the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office, which issued a no-bond arrest warrant for Slusher earlier this month on charges of felony vehicular manslaughter and misdemeanor driving under the influence under the age of 21.
Slusher turned himself in at the Ada County Jail Thursday afternoon and was released after the booking process.