A Battle Ground man who was driving drunk and racing when he caused a three-vehicle crash on state Highway 503 was sentenced Thursday to eight months in jail.
Dacoda Nelson, 26, pleaded guilty in Clark County Superior Court to vehicular assault stemming from the Nov. 8 crash that injured two people. One victim is still recovering from her injuries, the prosecution said.
Nelson was driving a 2004 BMW north on the highway about 3 miles north of Vancouver when he rear-ended a northbound 1994 Honda Civic at about 10:20 p.m., according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Superior Court.
The impact sent the Honda into oncoming traffic, where it collided with a southbound 2006 Scion, the affidavit states.
Nelson told Washington State Patrol troopers that he had been drinking and was racing a Ford Mustang when he struck the Honda, court records show. He later failed a field-sobriety test. Senior Deputy Prosecutor Kasey Vu said Thursday that Nelson had a blood-alcohol content of 0.10 percent more than three hours after the crash. Nelson also has a prior conviction for DUI, he said.
The driver of the Scion, then 48-year-old Evelyn Duran, formerly of Vancouver, had to be removed from her vehicle because it was so severely damaged. Vu said she suffered numerous fractures and internal injuries.
The driver of the Honda, Melody Adams, then 39, of Battle Ground, suffered cuts to her face, the affidavit said. She was treated at a hospital and released.
A victim advocate read a statement on behalf of Duran, in which she said her internal injuries nearly killed her. Duran said that there are many activities, such as riding her horse, that she’s now unable to do. The advocate added that Duran is still struggling with a broken femur from the crash, and Adams lost her job because of her injuries.
Nelson’s defense attorney, Tonya Rulli, said her client has stopped drinking and went to treatment. She said the prosecution offered Nelson the options to serve his sentence through a work- or school-release program, but he insisted he serve jail time.
Both attorneys agreed upon a six-month sentence, the low end of the sentencing range.
Judge David Gregerson asked a tearful Nelson if he remembers the night of the crash. “I remember everything,” he replied.
“Maybe that’s a blessing or maybe a curse,” Gregerson responded, adding that he doesn’t doubt Nelson’s remorse.
However, he ultimately handed down the longer sentence, in part because he said he was troubled by Nelson’s prior DUI. His license will be revoked.
Nelson will surrender to the Clark County Jail on Sunday. He was given credit for one day in custody.
