Prosecutors have filed felony charges against a Vancouver woman for allegedly helping her husband flee a crash while his passenger was left severely injured at the scene. The passenger died a week later in a hospital.
Sarah Dawn Graham, 37, has been summoned to appear in Clark County Superior Court on Feb. 28 on charges of felony hit and run, rendering criminal assistance and making a false statement to a public servant.
The charges relate to an Oct. 16, 2010, incident in Amboy in which Graham’s husband, Jason Brock Graham, 37, was accused of driving recklessly when he lost control of the car and hit a tree. His passenger, Harold Sloan Blanchard, 27, was injured and left trapped in the car.
Jason Graham is already charged with vehicular homicide and felony hit and run. His trial is scheduled for Feb. 27.
The crash occurred on Northeast Cedar Creek Road near Pup Creek Road. Earlier, a deputy saw Jason Graham making a reckless, high-speed pass, according to court documents.
In court papers filed Monday, prosecutors said that following the crash, Jason Graham left the scene on foot before paramedics and deputies arrived. He called his wife from his cellphone to pick him up.
When Sarah Graham drove into the area, she was stopped by a sheriff’s deputy, who told her she needed to take a detour because of the crash scene. During the conversation, court papers allege, she told the deputy she was visiting friends in the area.
She picked her husband up east of the crash scene and drove him to a nearby hospital, where he was put under observation for possible injuries. He was met by deputies and allegedly admitted to not contacting emergency personnel following the crash, according to court papers.
“Neither Jason nor Sarah Graham ever contacted 911 or EMS personnel to report the collision or Jason’s involvement in the collision,” Deputy Prosecutor Gene Pearce wrote in his court summons.
Family members have said Blanchard was Jason Graham’s good friend.
Laura McVicker: www.twitter.com/col_courts; www.facebook.com/reportermcvicker; laura.mcvicker@columbian.com; 360-735-4516.
