Clark County Superior Court Judge Suzan Clark had strong words for a Washougal man who was driving high on methamphetamine when he crashed his vehicle, seriously injuring a woman and killing her unborn child.
“Right now you’re dangerous. You’re dangerous to this community,” Clark told Joseph D. Short. “You’re 30 years old. It’s time to wake up.”
Clark sentenced Short to 1.5 years in prison after he pleaded guilty Wednesday to vehicular assault stemming from the crash on Aug. 31.
Short was under the influence of methamphetamine as he drove east on state Highway 14 at Milepost 19 in Washougal, crossed the center line and collided with a westbound tractor-trailer, according to a probable cause affidavit.
A passenger in his vehicle, Ashlie Cagle, suffered a fractured ankle and femur, as well as a bruised lung. Cagle was 33 weeks into her pregnancy. Her unborn child was confirmed dead by medical personnel, court records said. Short suffered a broken collarbone.
During the Wednesday hearing, Senior Deputy Prosecutor Kasey Vu said the Washington state toxicology lab found Short’s blood contained high levels of methamphetamine.
Cagle, who spoke during Short’s sentencing, called the crash an accident. Clark disagreed, and said Short’s drug use was to blame.
“I know I can’t go back and change what happened,” Short told the court. “I know I need treatment.”
Clark said she would begrudgingly sentence Short to the attorneys’ recommendation of 18 months, but said she felt he deserved to serve 20 months — the maximum amount of time.
“Eighteen months is a pretty light wake-up call,” she said.
She also ordered he undergo a substance abuse evaluation and treatment, and serve 18 months of community custody after his release.
