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Man charged with leaving fatal crash scene

Posted at 11:37 AM, Mar 03, 2016
and last updated 2016-03-03 13:11:18-05

A Taylor man is behind bars, charged with leaving the scene of a crash that killed one teen and badly injured another.

Thursday morning, Justin Saum made his first court appearance during an emotional arraignment.

The family of both teenage victims attended. They tell 7 Action News it was important to see the face of the man accused of leaving the scene.

The courtroom was filled with family and friends of Austin McCumber.

The 17-year-old died after his small mini bike hit Saum's truck. His friend and passenger, Martin Jamie, was badly hurt.

"I knew Austin very well, he spent a lot of time at my house," said Martin's father Jesse Jamie. 

Police say McCumber drove through a stop sign and hit Saum's truck at the intersection of Harold and Joan.

Saum reportedly did not stay to help the two boys, and he's now charged with leaving the scene.

Saum later turned himself in, and his attorney says he voluntarily submitted to drug and alcohol tests that he passed.

In court, the judge set bond at $350,000 citing multiple previous convictions.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Austin's family with medical bills and funeral expenses.
Click here to help.