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News / Northwest

On 2nd try, jury convicts woman in traffic deaths

The Columbian
Published: April 17, 2012, 5:00pm

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Oregon jurors who were told by a judge to try again have convicted a Salem woman of two counts of first-degree manslaughter and one count of assault in a crash that killed two teen pedestrians and injured a third.

The jury also found Sophia Downing guilty Wednesday of DUI and reckless endangerment.

The Statesman Journal reports (http://is.gd/rQYAcB ) that the new verdict came one day after Marion County Circuit Judge Dennis Graves refused to accept a verdict on which jurors failed to reach the required majority on the most serious charges.

The September 2010 crash killed 18-year-old Brittney Green and 16-year-old Francisco Cervantes and injured Jorge Echeverria, who was then 16.

Prosecutors said Downing was under the influence of drugs including a muscle relaxant and insomnia medication. The defense says the drugs were prescribed and didn’t contribute to the crash.

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Information from: Statesman Journal, http://www.statesmanjournal.com

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