Types of Negligent Homicide
The first of these, negligent homicide, is the killing of another person through gross negligence or without malice. It can also be considered a death that is the result of the negligent operation of a motor vehicle, which includes the operation of a boat or snowmobile. In some states, the term negligent homicide replaces the terminology of manslaughter (involuntary) with similar defining. Unintentional killing(s) in which the actor(s) should have known they were creating substantial and unjustified risks of death by conduct that grossly deviated from ordinary care summarizes the relationship between the definitions of these terms (Samaha, 2002, p. 536).
That the rationale as to why drivers of autos where a passenger gets killed in an accident get charged if the driver is at fault? I'm really not an atty, just curious.
I'm of the school on this radio stunt that unfortunate accidents happen; lotta blame to go around but not of criminal or even civil recovery nature.
The radio DJ's can kiss their broadcasting careers goodbye as they live with the guilt.