Drunk Drivers Crash into South Corvallis Family Home Twice in Four Months
A south Corvallis family has the unenviable distinction of having a drunk driver crash into their home not once but twice. Levi Willmeth was asleep at night on his living room couch at 1125 S.E. Goodnight Avenue when he was rudely awoken by a loud crash and the smell exhaust. He rushed to the next room to check on his wife and two young daughters and fortunately found them safe. However, the commotion was in his living room where a black Acura RSX had plummeted right through.
Lucky escape for resident
The front wall to the home was smashed about a foot following the impact of the crash. Willmeth who had been sleeping near the front door was saved by an ottoman as the door flung open following the crash. Understandably, now calls it his lucky life-saving ottoman. The culprit behind the crash and uninvited guest was 23 year old James Ellingsen of Corvallis who was driving under the influence.
According to police reports, he jumped a stop sign, steered his car over a six-inch curb and onto the sidewalk before heading straight for Willmeth’s front yard and straight through the front wall of the single floor duplex.
Driver charged with DUI
Ellingsen was booked on multiple charges including DUI, reckless driving, reckless endangering, and second degree criminal mischief and was sent to Benton County Jail before he was released. Toxicology reports indicate blood alcohol content of 0.20 percent, which according Oregon DUI attorneys is two and a half times the legal limit of 0.08 percent.
First crash four months ago
The crash brought back memories for the Willmeth family of a similar incident not long ago. Last year on November 12th, a 47-year-old woman crashed her 1990 Honda Accord into the retaining wall in the driveway of the Willmeth home.
Andrus is irresponsible
Tracy Lee Andrus fled the scene after the crash and was later arrested. She was charged on multiple counts for failing to perform a driver’s duty at the scene of an accident, criminal mischief, and property damage. The first time around it was Willmeth’s car that was saved by a few inches. The family is obviously visibly disturbed by the two incidents and hope the authorities do something before a third driver makes an unwelcome entry into their home.
Well, they do not have to live there. Perhaps they should put some large rocks in their front yard for added and serious protection?
Hillsboro man booked for 5th DUI
33-year-old Miguel D. Gutierrez, of Hillsboro was arrested by Beaverton police and faces his 5th DUI charge. He was also found to be riding on a suspended license from a previous DUI charge and had his riding and driving privileges removed. According to Beaverton police officer Mike Rowe, Gutierrez was reported by a clerk from a Chevron gas station who noticed he was drunk. The police tracked him down at his residence following the 911 call.
He was arrested on multiple charges including driving under the influence of intoxicants and driving on a suspended license. Gutierrez was also booked on a parole violated and taken to the Washington County Jail. He was found to have been convicted for DUI in Oregon on four previous occasions between 2004 and 2013, in Clackamas, Washington and Multnomah counties.
According to Oregon DUI attorneys, first time DUI offenders can have their driver’s license suspended for at least 90 day up to 1 year. Under the implied consent laws a refusal to submit results in automatic suspension of a driver’s license for one year. In such cases, first time DUI offenders can only have their driving privileges reinstated after a court approved abuse awareness program and the use of an ignition interlock device for one year.