PORTLAND — The son of former Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber says his crash into a motor home last 4th of July was a desperately needed wake-up call.
Logan Kitzhaber, 19, of Portland pleaded guilty last month to assault and driving under the influence of intoxicants for causing the wreck on U.S. Highway 101 near the Oregon Coast. As part of his plea agreement, he had to write a letter to the injured occupants of the motor home — Stan and Martha Lyckman of Port Angeles.
Kitzhaber, in a letter dated April 11, said he was a misguided teenager without any motivation at the time of the crash. He was addicted to popping pills and had no interests outside of drugs.
“This wreck was the culmination of my journey down a long, dark, emotional path laden with prescription pills,” he wrote. “On Independence Day I hit rock bottom.”
When he awoke in the hospital, he realized his life must change: “I truly believe that if I hadn’t crashed, I would have overdosed.”
State police said Kitzhaber was driving to Lincoln City in a Toyota Prius registered to his father. The car crossed the center line and then sideswiped the motor home. Kitzhaber apologized to the Lyckmans, saying his poor choice has forever changed their lives. He promised to avoid intoxicants, pursue his education and never again recklessly endanger innocent people.
“Nobody deserves what I put you through,” he wrote.
Kitzhaber pleaded guilty and was sentenced March 27 to a week in jail and five years on probation. He was also ordered to undergo drug and alcohol treatment and his license was suspended for five years.
The Lyckmans submitted a victim-impact statement to Lincoln County Circuit Court, letting Kitzhaber know how the crash upended their lives — emotionally, physically and financially.
“In the course of a few seconds, we went from being happy campers to being crippled,” Martha Lyckman wrote.
