A Vancouver man who was driving under the influence of alcohol and marijuana when he crashed into a stopped vehicle on Interstate 205 in August 2013, causing a chain reaction, was sentenced Wednesday to about a year in prison.
Michael D. West, 52, pleaded guilty last month in Clark County Superior Court to one count of vehicular assault. He initially faced three counts of vehicular assault. However, the other counts were dismissed in exchange for his guilty plea.
The crash occurred at 10:25 p.m. Aug. 2, 2013, on I-205 when southbound traffic came to a stop north of Padden Parkway. West was driving a 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer in the right lane when he struck a 2001 Daewoo Leganza driven by Dolores M. Glafka, then 69, of Vancouver, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Superior Court.
Glafka’s car then struck a 2005 Nissan Sentra driven in the right lane by Diana I. Tihohod, then 18, of Vancouver, and Tihohod’s car hit a 2007 Mazda CX7 driven by Mitica Dumitru, then 53, of New Westminster, B.C., the affidavit said.
West, Glafka and Tihohod were injured and transported to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center.
Sheila Owsley, then 46, of Vancouver, a passenger in West’s vehicle, and Angelina Beyu, then 17, of Vancouver, who was a passenger in Tihohod’s vehicle, were also injured and transported to PeaceHealth.
Neither Dumitru nor his passenger, Viorica Dumitru, then 46, of New Westminster, B.C. were injured.
During sentencing, Senior Deputy Prosecutor Kasey Vu said toxicology tests found West had a blood-alcohol content of 0.095 percent two hours after the crash. In Washington, a level of 0.08 percent is considered evidence of drunken driving. Testing also showed West had 6.7 nanograms per milliliter of THC — the active ingredient in marijuana — in his system at the time of the crash. The legal limit for driving is 5.0.
Vu said West was also speeding and that prior to the crash his vehicle was traveling at 76 mph. There was no evidence, he said, that West attempted to brake.
Glafka, who suffered the most severe injuries, including brain bleeding and broken bones, addressed the court and told West he’s fortunate her 4-year-old grandson wasn’t in the car with her.
She said her recovery has been difficult and that it will be “a lifelong challenge.” Her daughter also spoke during the hearing.
Based on the standard sentencing range, West faced three to nine months in custody. However, he agreed to a longer-than-normal sentence.
“I’m just very sorry,” West told the court, adding that if he could go back in time, he wouldn’t have driven.
Judge Suzan Clark told West she hopes the photos of the crash stay etched in his mind. She said based on his medical issues, it’s clear he’s a longtime alcoholic.
“I think you deserve every day of that 366 days,” she said.
Clark additionally sentenced West to 18 months of community custody and ordered he undergo an alcohol-abuse evaluation and treatment. West’s license was revoked and he must pay more than $6,000 in restitution.
