PORT ANGELES — Steven W. Boyd left the courtroom in tears Tuesday, and it wasn’t because he had just been charged with vehicular homicide.
Boyd and others at the hearing were visibly moved by statements made by the family of Darrell E. Campbell, the Ahousat, B.C., man who was killed in a head-on wreck Thursday morning.
Campbell’s survivors stood up to express their prayers for Boyd.
“We don’t want any animosity or any blame at this time,” said Pat John, a nephew of Campbell.
“You’re in our prayers, Mr. Boyd, along with your family.”
Campbell, 49, was the front-seat passenger in a Ford Ranger that was struck head-on by an Isuzu Rodeo driven by Boyd, 48, of Port Angeles on state Highway 112 near Place Road shortly after 8 a.m. Thursday.
Campbell was a member of the Ahousaht First Nation on Vancouver Island. Members of the tribe performed a prayer song outside the courthouse before the hearing.
“I know that there’s going to be a lot of hard times for both sides,” said Dawn Campbell, Darrell Campbell’s aunt, at the hearing.
“I have to carry on without my nephew.”
The State Patrol said Boyd had a 0.12 percent blood-alcohol level from a blood sample taken 95 minutes after the wreck and a 0.079 percent blood-alcohol level taken from a portable Breathalyzer about two hours after the wreck.
The legal limit in Washington state is 0.08.
The driver of the pickup, Angus P. Campbell, 57, and back-seat passenger Sophie H. Campbell were hospitalized.
Angus Campbell was released from Olympic Medical Center on Tuesday. Sophie Campbell remained in Harborview Medical Center’s intensive-care unit in serious condition Tuesday.
Clallam County Superior Court Judge S. Brooke Taylor found probable cause Tuesday to charge Boyd with one count of vehicular homicide and two counts of vehicular assault.
Taylor scheduled an arraignment for Friday at 1:30 p.m., at which time Boyd will enter a plea to the felony charges.
“We understand that things are going to be in the justice’s hands here in the court proceedings,” said John, addressing Boyd.
“We’ll keep you in our prayers, along with the family.”
Boyd sat quietly facing the bench. Defense attorney John Hayden told the Campbell family that his client was not disrespecting them by not turning around, but rather that he was not allowed to turn around under courtroom rules.
“I want people to know who my nephew was,” Dawn Campbell said.
“My nephew had four children. He was a sober person. He didn’t drink. He was a working man, very independent, and he gave to the community because he worked in the fisheries area.
“And that’s what he was going to do: He was going to a fisheries meeting in Neah Bay at the time of the accident.”
Dawn Campbell said her nephew will be laid to rest today. She encouraged Boyd to “carry on” and to “make your life better.”
“Take care of yourself and your family,” Dawn Campbell said.
“That’s what we do where we come from.”
Judge Taylor also addressed the Campbell family.
“We’re very sorry that you had to go through this while on our soil,” Taylor said.
“But you’re welcome in this courtroom at any time, and I hope you will trust our system of justice to deal with these issues.”
John thanked the judge for the chance to speak.
As Boyd was being led out of the courtroom in handcuffs, he turned to the family and mouthed the words “I’m sorry” amid tears.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
