A Washougal man who was driving drunk when he crashed and rolled his car, critically injuring his passenger, was sentenced Thursday to 30 days on a work crew.
Jesse Q. Gower, 25, pleaded guilty in Clark County Superior Court to third-degree assault and driving while under the influence in connection with the Aug. 9, 2015 crash on Northeast Padden Parkway. He initially faced vehicular assault-DUI, but that charge was amended as part of a plea deal.
Gower was driving his 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX at about 7:40 p.m. west on Padden Parkway and approaching Northeast 78th Street when he struck the back of a Ford Explorer. The Explorer was stopped at a red light, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Gower was traveling 45 to 50 mph when he hit the other vehicle. There was no evidence he attempted to brake, the affidavit said.
He reportedly told officers he had “passed out” before the crash, court records state.
Moses Morales, then 26, was asleep in the backseat of the Subaru at the time of the crash and was not wearing a seat belt. He suffered multiple facial fractures, brain bleeding and a broken vertebra, according to court documents. Morales also had several teeth knocked out and sustained cuts to his face.
Gower admitted to drinking alcohol hours before the crash, and a blood test later found he had a 0.072 blood alcohol level, court records show. However, it was estimated he actually had a blood-alcohol level of approximately 0.113 at the time of the crash, the affidavit states. In Washington, a level of 0.08 is considered evidence of drunken driving.
Gower was additionally sentenced to 12 months’ community custody. He was given credit for one day in custody.
