Driver suspected of hitting, killing pedestrian appears in court

A 47-year-old Milwaukie, Ore., man appeared Tuesday in Clark County Superior Court on suspicion of striking and killing a 62-year-old pedestrian Monday with his pickup truck while driving under the influence of marijuana.

Scott “Scotty” R. Rowles faces a charge of vehicular homicide at his arraignment Dec. 28 in connection with the death of Donald L. Collins of Vancouver on East Mill Plain Boulevard near Andresen Road.

Judge Robert Lewis set Rowles’ bail at $50,000, based in part on Rowles’ previous criminal history in Oregon of felony public indecency in 2005 and third-degree theft in 1985.

Just before 5:50 p.m. Monday, Collins crossed the eastbound lanes of Mill Plain in front of Safeway, carrying a grocery bag, according to witnesses. He stopped in a median, and then proceeded into westbound traffic. He was not in a crosswalk or an unmarked intersection.

A man driving a black Hyundai Sonata in the left lane slammed on the brakes to avoid hitting Collins. Rowles’ pickup, in the right lane, struck Collins.

Collins was dead when Vancouver police arrived.

Rowles told police that he had smoked “a bowl of marijuana” about one hour to one and half hours before the collision, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Police said they could smell the pot on Rowles’ breath. He also failed a sobriety test, police said.

Rowles works at a temp agency and had been staying with a friend for the past two months in Milwaukie.

Paris Achen: 360-735-4551; http://twitter.com/Col_Courts; http://facebook.com/ColTrends; paris.achen@columbian.com.