Crime & Safety
Teen Charged as Adult in Fatal Hill Hopping Crash
Police said Michael Gianino was going more than 75 mph over a hill on Greens Bottom Road when he lost control, flipping the car several times.
A teenager was charged as an adult 10 months after flipping his car in St. Charles County, killing one passenger and seriously injuring another.
Michael Gianino, 17, was 16 years old when his Oct. 17 crash on Greens Bottom Road in St. Charles County killed Clayton Newell, a sophomore at . Gianino’s younger sister, Samantha Gianino, also was seriously injured.
Gianino was charged Tuesday with second-degree involuntary manslaughter and second-degree assault.
Find out what's happening in St. Peterswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Police said Gianino was “hill hopping,” driving along the road along the Missouri River at speeds topping 75 mph, trying to go airborne over a levee.
“Greens Bottom Road is flat as a pancake except where it goes over a levee. It’s a straight, flat road and kids speed over that thing and go airborne,” said. Lt. Craig McGuire, a spokesman.
Find out what's happening in St. Peterswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Gianino was driving about 40 mph over the speed limit when he went over the hill. He lost control of the car, which left the roadway and flipped several times, according to court documents.
McGuire said there have been other fatalities on the road due to hill hopping.
Gianino posted 10 percent of a $25,000 bond and was released from St. Charles County jail Thursday.
Although he lived in St. Charles County at the time of the crash, his current address was listed in St. Petersburg, FL.
For more crime information on St. Peters Patch, see the following articles:
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.