A serial drink-driver has been jailed for up to 20 years for mowing down and killing a young boy, then driving on, after downing seven beers.
Mason Ohms, 50, consumed over 140 ounces of beer before plowing into Eli Mitchell while the teen was riding his bike home from a grocery store in West Jordan, Utah on April 26, 2022.
Witnesses say the 50-year-old was waiting to turn at a red light while the 13-year-old was crossing the street. Ohms then 'accelerated hard' and hit the boy with the front and back tires of his car.
Witnesses watched on as the drunk driver continued driving with Mitchell's bike still underneath his Chevy Silverado pickup truck. Ohms then performed a U-turn back to the scene of the crime, but instead of stopping, he drove into a nearby parking lot where he disposed of the bike.
It is unclear where Eli was at this time. He was mortally-wounded by the truck, and died later in hospital.
Eli Mitchell, 13, was killed in the tragic drunk driving hit and run while riding his bike home from a grocery store
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Mason Ohms, 50, was jailed for up to 20 years in prison for the killing. He had four previous convictions for drunk driving alongside other driving offences
Charging documents claim Ohms was seen leaving a bar just two minutes before the crash, where he downed seven 20 ounce beers before getting behind the wheel and speeding away.
When questioned by police six hours later, Ohms still had a blood alcohol level double the legal limit, but claimed of the crash that he only 'felt a bump and didn't know what it was'.
Ohms has four previous convictions for drunk driving alongside other driving offences, and the judge said part of his lengthy sentencing decision is due to the 50-year-old's criminal history.
Speaking after the sentencing, Eli's family paid tribute to the teen, with his father Jeremy Mitchell saying: 'Now the healing process can finally take place.'
Witnesses say the drunk driver continued along the road with the teen's bike still under his Chevy Silverado pickup truck, before he circled back and disposed of the bike in a nearby parking lot. Eli's bike is visible under the truck in this image shot at the time of the killing
'I feel like we are now able to move on to the next step,' he added. 'It is a sad day for both families.'
His mother Lisa Mitchell said she was 'super grateful' to the judge following the conviction. She continued: 'Eli lived big. He did not waste time. He just got so much into his 13 years.
'I'm wanting to tell people about Eli. Since Eli's been gone that's all I care about doing, is making sure that people can meet him and can know who he is. Even though he only lived here 13 years, he can keep making a difference.'
She also condemned Ohms' decision to flee the scene after plowing into her son, adding: 'How can someone be so awful as to leave a child's lifeless body on the street knowing he is the reason he is lying there dead.
'I think for me, when I get super sad — which is often, I try to think, "Would Eli want me to be super sad?" And he would not want (that). He would want me to find joy. He would want me to live my best life for as long as I’ve got.'
Ohms broke down as he was sentenced by the judge, telling the court he was 'sincerely sorry' for the tragic killing.
He added: 'I take full responsibility for them, I wish it would've never happened.'
Following Ohms' tearful apology, a young female relative said: 'I hope I will be able to forgive him in time.'
Ohms pleaded guilty to second-degree felony criminal homicide, automobile homicide, and third-degree felony leaving the scene of an accident involving death, and was sentenced up to 20 years in prison.
He will serve up to 15 for killing Eli, and up to another five years behind bars for fleeing the scene.
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