06/25/2020
Remember we offer tipsy tows in Washington Tillamook and Yamhill County!! Please don't drink and drive. Give us a call 24hrs we will get you and your vehicle home safe.
Driver Charged After Teen Girl Killed in Weekend DUI Crash
In a little more than 24 hours over the weekend, deputies were called to three significant crashes, which led to two deaths and one juvenile being charged. In every crash, alcohol is suspected to be a factor, and the people in the vehicles were ejected.
The first crash happened on Friday, June 19, 2020, at 10:23 p.m. in the 53000 block of SW Patton Valley Road. The 38-year-old driver was flown to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.
The second crash happened on Saturday at 3:23 a.m. in the 36000 block of NW Long Road. The 25-year-old driver died at the scene due to injuries sustained from the crash.
On Saturday at 11:23 p.m., deputies responded to an injury crash near the intersection of SW Hillsboro Highway and SW Bald Peak Road. Deputies found a white 2005 Nissan 350Z had left the roadway and rolled multiple times. Both juvenile occupants in the vehicle were ejected. The female passenger died at the scene due to injuries sustained from the crash, and the male driver was rushed to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Deputies spoke to witnesses of the crash who were following the Nissan. The witnesses knew the driver and passenger and told deputies they suspected the driver was drunk. Deputies later determined the driver had a blood-alcohol level more than two times the legal limit. Speed also appears to be a significant factor in the crash.
The male driver is currently facing charges of manslaughter, DUI, and reckless driving. Additional charges may be filed in the future. Oregon law prohibits his name from being released.
The Washington County Crash Analysis Reconstruction Team (CART) is assisting in the investigation of all three crashes. CART is a multi-agency team of specially trained law enforcement officers from agencies throughout Washington County.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), every day, almost 30 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes — that's one person every 50 minutes. These deaths have fallen by a third in the last three decades; however, drunk-driving crashes claim more than 10,000 lives per year.
Deputies want to remind everyone to never operate a vehicle after drinking alcohol or the use of any drug. The legal blood alcohol content for driving under the influence is .08; for most, this equates to just a few drinks.