Driver accused of killing 4 to change plea
A detail from Matthew Ellmer's MySpace page. By KVAL News and KVAL.com staffEUGENE, Ore. -- With his blood alcohol level more than twice the legal limit and fresh from a fight at a strip club, Matthew N. Ellmers climbed behind the wheel of his red Isuzu Rodeo and drove off, turning south down Bertelsen Road towards West 11th Avenue, investigators believe.
Mulgrave's son Jakobi and her friend Connie Vermilyea, 34, of Springfield, and Connie's son Jaziah Vermilyea, 10, were also in the SUV as they headed down West 11th Avenue towards the intersection with Bertelsen Road. Multiple eyewitnesses told police that is where the red Isuzu, driven by a man whose personal statement on his MySpace page is "If you dont wreck you're not going fast enough!!!!" ran the red light at an estimated 70 mph and slammed into the Toyota Highlander. Ellmers, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, has scheduled a change of plea hearing for 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, according to the district attorney's office. The court administrator said numerous witnesses have been called for what the court calendar lists as a change of plea and sentencing on the following charges:
KVAL News will be there and bring you the latest online and on the news at noon Tuesday. Four lives gone in an instant The t-bone crash last January forced the Highlander into a utility pole. Ellmers survived with a broken leg and possibly some broken ribs, according to police. The five people inside the Highlander weren't as lucky. Jakobi Mulgrave survived and returned home to Springfield after an extended stay at a Portland hospital. His mother Heather, her student Nima, and Connie and Jaziah Vermilyea all were wearing their seatbelts. All were instantly killed by the crash, investigators believe. "I did all the death notifications, so it wasn't easy at all," said Sgt. Mike Gilbert, who supervises Eugene police's accident reconstruction team. "This is the worst one I've ever been to in over 28 years in this business." |
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