Auburn man sentenced for May 2024 Kent vehicular homicide

An Auburn man was sentenced to 40 months in prison for vehicular homicide while under the influence in Kent, which resulted in the death of a 24-year-old man.

On March 7, Keeden Renion, 24, of Auburn, was sentenced at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent by King County Superior Court Judge Judge Mark Larranaga to 40 months in the state Department of Corrections for the vehicular homicide of Rahul Rahul, 24, of Kent. He also received 20 months for vehicular assault for injuries to two passengers in his vehicle. The sentences will run at the same time.

On Feb. 20, Renion pleaded guilty on all charges.

According to court documents, at about 10:30 p.m. May 29, 2024, at the intersection of Central Avenue North and East Smith Street in Kent, Renion was driving a Tesla at a high rate of speed after a Mariners game where he had consumed alcohol. Documents state that Renion then crashed into a vehicle and subsequently crashed into a Toyota Prius, causing the death of Rahul, documents state.

Following release, Renion will be on community custody for 12 months for the vehicular homicide charge and then 18 months for the vehicular assault charge, to run consecutively — meaning one after the other.

Renion was additionally sentenced for reckless driving, receiving 364 days on electronic home detention as long as there are no probation violations for 60 months following his sentencing. But if there are violations, the court can consider additional jail time. Renion also received a one-day jail sentence for driving under the influence, which he has time served for.

Details of the incident

Documents state that officers responded to the scene, and upon arrival, they learned that at the intersection of Central Avenue North and East Smith Street, Renion ran the red light at East Smith Street at a high rate of speed and then collided with a Toyota Yaris and subsequently crashed into a Toyota Prius. Documents state Renion then continued and struck multiple large concrete planters and a City of Kent streetlight pole, and then traveled another 100-plus feet before coming to rest.

According to documents, Renion was then extricated from the Tesla by fire personnel and pretended to be asleep until he was told that if he didn’t wake up, he was going to have a tube put down his throat. Renion then told fire personnel that he was messed up and that he couldn’t remember his name before he went back to sleep. Fire personnel said he seemed to slur his words, and an officer later said he smelled what he believed to be alcohol coming from him.

According to documents, an officer retrieved video from the Tesla’s cameras and observed video from about 10 minutes before the crash. Renion appeared to be slightly unsteady on his feet and initially struggled to keep the driver’s door open.

Documents state Renion is then seen on video speeding around Kent, passing vehicles, before his car was reported driving 76 mph when he struck the first vehicle, and then at 64 mph when he struck the Prius. According to documents, Renion’s blood alcohol content level was 0.233 in one test, and in another, it was 0.176.

In support of Renion, various family members wrote letters to the judge, outlining his character, characterizing his remorse and asking for leniency.

“It is clear from the letters filed on behalf of Mr. Renion that his actions on May 29, 2024, weigh heavily on his soul, and that his remorse is genuine. This is why Mr. Renion pleaded guilty so that he could take responsibility for his actions,” Renion’s attorney said in his sentence recommendation to the court. “While only 24 years old, Mr. Renion has been described as a “thoughtful and kind young man.” He is regarded as a “hard worker,” and someone who has a strong “work ethic.” He has a “dedicated commitment to his family, who, while they do not excuse his actions in this case, know that he has so much potential, will learn from this, and will be a positive member in the community in the future.”