Oregon man sentenced to six months for vehicular assault

An 18-year-old man who was driving under the influence when he caused a head-on collision in Washougal was sentenced Thursday to six months in jail.

Filipp N. Yukhimchuk of Happy Valley, Ore., pleaded guilty in Clark County Superior Court to vehicular assault — driving under the influence and in a reckless manner — stemming from the May 3 crash in the 1600 block of Southeast Vernon Road.

Yukhimchuk was driving a 2005 Volvo XC90 downhill on Vernon Road when he crossed into the oncoming lane and struck the left corner of a 1984 Subaru Brat that was traveling uphill, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Superior Court.

The force of the crash caused both cars to rotate counterclockwise. The Volvo tipped, rolled over a guardrail, slid down an embankment and lodged between two trees. The Subaru’s driver’s side was ripped open, and the car was pushed into the guardrail, the affidavit said.

Christian S. Monks, who was driving the Subaru, suffered multiple broken bones, including his left arm and leg. Senior Deputy Prosecutor Kasey Vu said Thursday that Monks attended Yukhimchuk’s hearing in a wheelchair.

According to officers at the scene, Yukhimchuk smelled of alcohol. He eventually admitted to drinking two shots of alcohol before driving, court records state. He then took a field-sobriety test, during which he showed signs of impairment.

A breath test found Yukhimchuk had a blood alcohol level of 0.067, court documents said. Washington state law limits blood alcohol content for those younger than 21 to 0.02 percent.

Yukhimchuk was given credit for 14 days in custody.