In our zeal to avoid draconian punishment for unlawful acts, America’s justice system fails crimes’ victims. The Columbian reported, in the April 17 story “Seeking justice for lives struck down,” about the 8 1/2 -year sentence that Brandon C. Smith received for the killing of Raisa Mosh and Irina Gardinant, as well as the continuing anguish of the survivors. On Halloween 2014, an impaired driver ran over and killed 7-year-old Cadence Boyer. Another impaired driver killed James Luden by crashing into Luden’s motorcycle from behind.
The Columbian also reported statistics of vehicular fatalities in Clark County by impaired drivers and that our legislature passed Jason’s Law, which allows for harsher penalties in vehicular homicide cases. In one case, the accused bailed out, violated the terms of release multiple times, and was sentenced to only 7 1/2 years.
In Smith’s case, reports showed that he took steps to conceal his vehicle and ordered repair parts so as to further avoid prosecution. His mother was charged with witness tampering; his girlfriend and their child were taken into custody. Had Smith killed with a gun, the charges would have been double — one for each victim.
Cases of vehicular homicide while under the influence of intoxicants should be pursued vigorously and with extreme prejudice, particularly now that another intoxicant has been added to the list.
