Driver in teens’ deaths gets 26 months

TACOMA — Sela Anne Kalama will serve 26 months in federal prison for driving into the Elwha River and killing two teenagers March 18.

Her prison term will be followed by three years’ supervised release that will include at least 200 hours of community service to Native American youth.

Kalama, 20, also must refrain from alcohol during her supervised release.

She had pleaded guilty Dec. 11 to two counts of involuntary manslaughter in the deaths of Ronnie L. Scroggins, 15, and Vanna K. Francis, 17.

According to Kalama’s plea agreement, she had consumed more than a dozen containers of beer before driving, and had been text messaging on her cell phone while driving the car.

She drove her mother’s car and six teenage passengers off the Lower Elwha Road into the swollen river shortly after 3 a.m..

Scroggins, of the Makah reservation in Neah Bay, and Francis, of the Lower Elwha Klallam reservation near Port Angeles, were unable to escape the car.

Kalama, of the Quinault reservation in Queets, and four more of her passengers escaped her 1997 Kia sedan.

No barrier between the end of the road and the river was in place.

More in News

Crews work to remove metal siding on the north side of Field Arts & Events Hall on Thursday in Port Angeles. The siding is being removed so it can be replaced. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Siding to be replaced

Crews work to remove metal siding on the north side of Field… Continue reading

Tsunami study provides advice

Results to be discussed on Jan. 20 at Field Hall

Chef Arran Stark speaks with attendees as they eat ratatouille — mixed roasted vegetables and roasted delicata squash — that he prepared in his cooking with vegetables class. (Elijah Sussman/Peninsula Daily News)
Nonprofit school is cooking at fairgrounds

Remaining lectures to cover how to prepare salmon and chicken

Port Townsend Main Street Program volunteers, from left, Amy Jordan, Gillian Amas and Sue Authur, and Main Street employees, Sasha Landes, on the ladder, and marketing director Eryn Smith, spend a rainy morning decorating the community Christmas tree at the Haller Fountain on Wednesday. The tree will be lit at 4 p.m. Saturday following Santa’s arrival by the Kiwanis choo choo train. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Decoration preparation

Port Townsend Main Street Program volunteers, from left, Amy Jordan, Gillian Amas… Continue reading

Port Angeles approves balanced $200M budget

City investing in savings for capital projects

Olympic Medical Center Board President Ann Henninger, left, recognizes commissioner Jean Hordyk on Wednesday as she steps down after 30 years on the board. Hordyk, who was first elected in 1995, was honored during the meeting. (Paula Hunt/Peninsula Daily News)
OMC Commissioners to start recording meetings

Video, audio to be available online

Jefferson PUD plans to keep Sims Way project overhead

Cost significantly reduced in joint effort with port, city

Committee members sought for ‘For’ and ‘Against’ statements

The Clallam County commissioners are seeking county residents to… Continue reading

Christopher Thomsen, portraying Santa Claus, holds a corgi mix named Lizzie on Saturday at the Airport Garden Center in Port Angeles. All proceeds from the event were donated to the Peninsula Friends of Animals. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Santa Paws

Christopher Thomsen, portraying Santa Claus, holds a corgi mix named Lizzie on… Continue reading

Peninsula lawmakers await budget

Gov. Ferguson to release supplemental plan this month

Clallam County looks to pass deficit budget

Agency sees about 7 percent rise over 2025 in expenditures

Officer testifies bullet lodged in car’s pillar

Witness says she heard gunfire at Port Angeles park