Beach man pleads guilty in drunken driving death

VIRGINIA BEACH

A Virginia Beach man is facing more than four years in prison after he was convicted in the death of a 57-year-old pedestrian last year.

Brandon Wayne Meck, 26, pleaded guilty Wednesday to aggravated involuntary manslaughter, drunken driving and eluding police in connection with the death of David Paul Lucas.

Prosecutor Patrick J. Connolly said Meck, who worked as a mover, had gone out for drinks after work on April 23, 2009. He left a bar at about 10:30 p.m.

After stopping at a traffic light at the intersection of Virginia Beach Boulevard and North Great Neck Road, Meck struck Lucas as he crossed Virginia Beach Boulevard, according to Connolly.

A police officer had pulled in behind Meck's Nissan Xterra and saw the crash. He stopped to assist Lucas, and other officers pulled Meck over about a mile away, Connolly said.

Meck had a blood-alcohol concentration of more than 0.20 - two and a half times the state's legal limit for driving. Lucas died at a hospital shortly after the incident.

Meck's attorney, Mark T. Del Duca, said his client is highly remorseful.

A plea agreement worked out in the case calls for a cap of four years and six months of active time. Sentencing is set for November.