OTTAWA — A former Ottawa University football player has accepted a plea deal in a crash that killed a fellow OU football player Nov. 11, 2015. Jordan Reed pleaded no contest in Franklin County District Court this afternoon to misdemeanor vehicular homicide in the death of Samuel Brazeal, 19, Perrin, Texas. The two were driving and drinking during the Veterans Day holiday of 2015 when Reed started down the Flint Hills Trail at a high rate of speed, County Attorney Stephen Hunting said. Reed was going 50 to 60 miles an hour when he hit his brakes before crossing the narrow pedestrian bridge just west of I-35, Hunting said. Reed’s pickup went off the bridge and fell into the creek bed below, killing Brazeal. The wreck left Reed unconscious for an unknown length of time, Hunting said. When he came to and saw the wreck, he walked back along the trail bloodied and dazed, Hunting said. When he finally met and told a roommate about the wreck, the roommate went down the trail and when he discovered the crash scene, called authorities, who arrived shortly after 5 a.m., he said. A deputy questioned Reed about two hours later and administered a blood-alcohol test, Hunting said. Although the deputy smelled alcohol on Reed, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation lab didn’t find any evidence of alcohol in his blood, he said. Although they didn’t attend today’s hearing, Hunting said Brazeal’s parents were aware of the plea deal and approved of it. “Their input had a tremendous input on how we handled this case,” Hunting told District Judge Douglas Witteman. Reed’s sentencing has been set for April 26. He could be fined up to $2,500 and sentenced up to a year in jail. Reed’s attorney Frederick Meier asked Witteman that sentencing be delayed until after a memorial fund-raising run organized by Brazeal’s parents in their son’s name is held. That will be April 8.
Thursday, Feb. 9, 3 p.m.
