Jury quick to find Port Angeles woman guilty of vehicular assault

PORT ANGELES — A Clallam County jury Tuesday found Vonda V. Pritchard of Port Angeles guilty of vehicular assault for her role in a July 2010 wreck that injured an 83-year-old woman.

Pritchard, 43, was accused of driving drunk in a 1999 Land Rover when she failed to negotiate the left turn from eastbound U.S. Highway 101 onto Old Olympic Highway and broadsided a 1996 Chrysler driven by Lonn Holman of Port Angeles in the westbound lanes.

A passenger, Shirley Holman, 83, suffered a broken rib and a serious wrist injury that required multiple surgeries, Clallam County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney John Troberg said.

According to the probable-cause statement, Pritchard’s vehicle struck a yield sign before continuing into oncoming traffic.

Both vehicles rotated counter-clockwise before coming to a rest in the westbound lanes.

A state toxicologist found that Pritchard had a 0.14 blood-alcohol level more than four hours after the wreck, Troberg said.

The legal limit in Washington is 0.08 percent.

The jury deliberated for about 20 minutes before reaching its verdict, Troberg said.

Pritchard will be sentenced Tuesday.

She faces a jail sentence of three to nine months, Troberg said.

More in News

U.S. Highway 101, pictured from the Black Diamond bridge, is set to reopen late Thursday or early Friday, the state Department of Transportation said. The section has been closed since early March for fish passage work on Tumwater Creek with a detour set up on state Highway 117. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Reopening soon

U.S. Highway 101, pictured from the Black Diamond bridge, is set to… Continue reading

Amazon submits permits with the city of Port Angeles

Project larger than one previously proposed

Port Townsend likely to see increases in recycling fees

Changes coming due to adjustments with Jefferson County Solid Waste

Logging protest continues with climber in tree

Injunction hearing scheduled for Friday

Three hospitalized after crash on Highway 19

Three people were taken to hospitals following a three-car collision… Continue reading

Colleen Williams of Port Angeles won a Toyota Corolla donated by Wilder Toyota in the 36th annual Great Olympic Peninsula Duck Derby. She said Tuesday she was shocked when Bruce Skinner, the executive director of the Olympic Medical Center Foundation, called her Sunday to tell her she won. “All I could say is, ‘You’re kidding me. What?” Williams said. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Toyota winner

Colleen Williams of Port Angeles won a Toyota Corolla donated by Wilder… Continue reading

Overnight lane closures set east of Port Angeles

Contractors working for the state Department of Transportation will… Continue reading

Kayla Fairchild, culinary manager for the Port Angeles Food Bank, chops vegetables on Friday that will go into ready-made meals for food bank patrons. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Meal programs offer twist to food bank services

PA launches first revenue-producing effort with entrees

Jefferson County to move its fire danger

Risk level to increase to moderate June 1

Assessor’s office asks to keep reduced hours

Customer service now four days per week

Port Angeles Mayor Kate Dexter is one of several local people who helped pluck a winning duck from a pickup truck on Sunday at Port Angeles City Pier. There was 36 ducks to be plucked from six Wilder Toyotas. (Dave Logan/For Peninsula Daily News)
Duck Derby event brings in new record

Proceeds to benefit students seeking medical careers

Woman flown to hospital after rollover crash

A woman was flown to a Seattle hospital after… Continue reading