Man accused of driving while high

Other driver died in crash

A 22-year-old Milwaukee man with a recent drug conviction was likely high on marijuana and driving more than 80 mph when he crashed into a van, killing the driver, authorities say.

Larreon Hopkins was charged Tuesday with second-degree reckless homicide in the death of James Bentley.

Hopkins was driving a red SUV early Thursday on W. Capitol Drive at a high speed when he crashed into a blue Chevy Astro that was trying to cross Capitol Drive on N. 13th St., according to prosecutors.

Bentley, 52, died from blunt force injuries.

Police arrested Hopkins at the scene and an officer reported smelling a “strong odor of marijuana” coming from him, a criminal complaint says.

He was taken to a hospital, where a sample of his blood was taken to test for drugs or alcohol. The results are pending.

When interviewed by police, Hopkins denied smoking marijuana and denied speeding, according to the complaint.

But a witness described seeing a red SUV speeding and swerving around other vehicles just before the crash, the complaint says.

Traffic investigators examined data in the vehicle, finding the BMW was traveling between 69 and 84 mph immediately before the crash.

Hopkins appeared in court Tuesday, and his bail was set at $2,500, but if GPS monitoring was not available, his bail was to be raised to $25,000, according to online court records.

He is due back in court Jan. 20 for a preliminary hearing.

Hopkins was convicted of misdemeanor possession of marijuana and resisting or obstructing an officer in December. He was sentenced to four months in jail, but the sentenced was suspended, or stayed, and he was instead ordered to serve one year of probation. If he did not complete the terms of his probation, he could then serve the four months in jail.