ANTHONY J BATTAGLIA
A Kansas City man has been sentenced in Platte County to 6 years in prison after he killed another man while speeding and under the influence of a cocktail of prescription drugs.
Anthony J. Battaglia, 30, received the sentence on June 25 after pleading guilty in April to involuntary manslaughter and possession of a controlled substance.
Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd said, “No one should ever get behind the wheel of a two-ton vehicle while under the influence, whether it’s because of alcohol, illegal drugs, or even prescription drugs. As this case tragically proves, the consequences can be deadly.”
On February 10, 2014, Battaglia’s GMC Yukon left the road and rear-ended a Chevrolet Malibu parked on the shoulder near I-435 and Missouri 152.
The driver of the Malibu, Donald G. Rippy, was transported to North Kansas City Hospital and pronounced dead. The passenger of the Malibu was also transported to North Kansas City Hospital for treatment.
Highway patrol officers noted that Battaglia appeared disoriented and confused at the scene. Battaglia was arrested and investigators obtained a search warrant for his blood.
An investigation by the Highway Patrol’s Major Crash Investigation Unit showed that, according to the vehicle’s “black box,” Battaglia’s vehicle was travelling at 82 miles per hour just before the impact, and at 78 miles per hour at impact. An analysis of Battaglia’s blood showed it contained amphetamine, alprazolam, carisoprodol, hydroxybuproprion, and meprobamate. All of those substances are contained in legal prescription medications, but Battaglia did not have a prescription for alprazolam, commonly known as Xanax.
Zahnd’s office recommended 10 years in prison during a sentencing hearing earlier this month. Battaglia’s attorneys sought a sentence of just 120 days in prison to receive treatment followed by probation. Platte County Circuit Judge Thomas Fincham pronounced the sentence of 6 years after considering the case for two weeks.
“We always believed prison was appropriate in this case,” Zahnd said. “While the defendant did not mean for anyone to die that night, we need to send the message that if you drive under the influence and kill someone, you will