PORT ANGELES — Steven W. Boyd, a Port Angeles man accused of driving drunk when he allegedly caused a wreck that killed an Ahousat, B.C., man last August, will get a new trial date Friday.
Boyd, 48, is charged with vehicular homicide and two counts of vehicular assault in connection with the Aug. 25 wreck that killed 49-year-old Darrell E. Campbell on state Highway 112 just west of Port Angeles.
Clallam County Superior Court Judge Ken Williams on Friday granted defense attorney Harry Gasnick’s motion to postpone the trial rescheduling hearing to allow Boyd’s regular attorney, Alex Stalker, to address the court.
The new trial reset hearing will be at 1:30 p.m. this Friday in Clallam County Superior Court.
Boyd’s trial was previously set to begin last Monday.
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 near Place Road.
The legal limit in Washington is 0.08 percent.
First Nation member
Campbell was a member of the Ahousaht First Nation on Vancouver Island.
His family said he was on his way to a meeting in Neah Bay at the time of the crash.
Campbell was the front-seat passenger in a Ford Ranger that was struck head-on by an Isuzu Rodeo driven by Boyd.
The impact seriously injured Campbell’s brother, Angus Campbell, 57, and his niece, Sophie Campbell, 18.
In January, Boyd considered accepting a plea offer that would have resulted in a five-year prison sentence.
He changed course in February, maintaining his not-guilty plea, after his attorney introduced new evidence to the case.
Challenge test results
In a March 6 hearing, Stalker said he will challenge the results of the alcohol tests administered to Boyd and that the testimony of a new witness changed the complexion of the case.
Log truck driver Richard Larson told the State Patrol on Feb. 13 that the sun was “extremely bright” the morning of the collision, court papers said.
Boyd was driving eastbound when the wreck occurred at about 8 a.m.
“I am a log truck driver, and I had just went through that area on Highway 112 just prior to the collision,” Larson said in his statement to the State Patrol.
“I remember that the sun was extremely bright, actually brighter than any other morning.”
“At the place of the collision, there is a corridor cut in the trees where the sun shines through,” Larson said, adding that he “couldn’t see even with polarized sunglasses.”
Stalker has said he plans to challenge the allegedly excessive blood-alcohol level cited by the State Patrol.
Boyd remains in the Clallam County jail on $50,000 bail.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
