Man sentenced for vehicular homicide

EPHRATA - A 55-year-old Soap Lake man will serve nearly five

years in prison for killing a woman while he was driving

drunk.

Charles R. Rutherford pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide in Grant

County Superior Court. The charges weren't changed as part of a

plea agreement.

EPHRATA - A 55-year-old Soap Lake man will serve nearly five years in prison for killing a woman while he was driving drunk.

Charles R. Rutherford pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide in Grant County Superior Court. The charges weren't changed as part of a plea agreement.

Grant County Superior Court Judge John Knodell followed the prosecutor's recommendation, sentencing the man to four years and nine months in prison. Rutherford faced a maximum sentence of five years and five months for the October 2009 collision.

Rutherford's sentence includes a two year enhancement, which can't be reduced for good behavior, Prosecutor Angus Lee stated.

"After (Rutherford) agreed to enter the plea, I spoke with the family of the victim and the detective who investigated the case.  All parties agreed that the potential for only an additional eight months upon trial conviction was not a sufficient benefit to make going to trial a wise decision. All parties agreed that in light of the defendant's willingness to plead guilty to the original charge, a 57-month sentence was in the interest of justice and the wishes of the victim's family."

Rutherford was driving eastbound on state Route 28, when he crashed into a truck turning into a trailer park. The truck rolled, hitting a tree and Rutherford struck the back of a trailer, according to a Washington State Patrol report.

The victim's husband pulled the woman out of the truck, performing CPR until emergency personnel arrived. She was transported to Columbia Basin Hospital and airlifted to Harborview Medical Center. She died four days later, according to the police report.

Rutherford staggered up to the officer, smelling like alcohol, telling police the other driver didn't activate his turn signal. When the officer performed a horizontal gaze nystagmus test, it indicated Rutherford was drunk. He refused a field sobriety test, according to the police report. No blood alcohol level was listed in the report.