This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
An American Fork man pleaded guilty to manslaughter Monday, admitting that he ran a woman off the road to her death in an attempt to repossess her SUV in May.
Kenneth Lee Drew, 50, pleaded guilty as charged in 4th District Court to the second-degree felony, which carries a maximum penalty of one to 15 years in the Utah State Prison.
In exchange for the plea, prosecutors have agreed to not recommend prison at his Jan. 10 sentencing hearing, according to court documents.
The defendant admitted in court documents that on May 17, he pursued 35-year-old Ashleigh Best's vehicle "at a high rate of speed," which caused the woman's car to leave the road and crash into a tree. Best died from her injuries caused by the collision.
Charging documents state that Drew went to Best's Pleasant Grove home that day to repossess her Lincoln Navigator.
Surveillance video shows that after Drew tried to box Best's SUV in with his tow truck, she maneuvered the vehicle around his truck, charges state, and Drew — an employee of On Demand Repo — went "speeding" after her "in very close pursuit."
Police believe speeds through city streets reached 70 to 80 mph and that Drew drove the tow truck "straight" on an S-curve "to pin Mrs. Best against the curb on the right."
The SUV jumped the curb and hit a tree. Police believe the collision occurred at full speed.