Driver arraigned in crash that killed former Chemeketa Community College nursing instructor
A man convicted in a drunk driving crash that killed his brother six years ago was arraigned Monday on manslaughter and driving under the influence of intoxicants (DUII) charges after allegedly crashing into a house and killing a former Chemeketa Community College instructor.
Keizer police said Andrew Robert Modine's blood-alcohol level was three times the legal limit when he crashed into a power pole before barreling into the bedroom of the home, killing Moira Hughes, 67, and leaving a second resident paralyzed from the waist down.
Modine, 41, of Keizer, is being held at Marion County jail without bail.
Modine has a criminal history involving DUII in Oregon. Most recently, he was on supervised probation after being convicted of hit-and-run and DUII charges after killing his younger brother while driving drunk in 2016, court records show. A criminally negligent homicide charge was dropped at the time as part of a plea deal.
His driver's license was revoked for five years, court records show.
Previous coverage: Keizer police arrest man for role in brother's death
Hughes worked as a nursing instructor at Chemeketa Community College from 2005 until she retired in June 2019. She also served on the community college's Diversity Advisory Council in 2017, according to Marie Hulett, the college's executive director of institutional advancement.
Hughes was an active volunteer with the Marion County 4-H program.
Police affidavit details crash into Keizer residence
Keizer police responded to a crash at 7:40 a.m. Saturday in the 5600 block of Trail Avenue NE.
According to a probable cause statement, a witness who was several cars behind Modine's Dodge Ram 2500 said they saw the driver accelerate east on Lockhaven Drive NE before going off the road into a landscaped area, then getting back on the road and out of sight.
A second witness said they heard a loud crash and saw Modine's truck had rammed through the south-facing wall of her neighbor's house on Trail Avenue. The driver, she said, was singing and headbanging to blaring music.
She told police she could hear screaming coming from the room where the truck crashed.
Officials said the car was still running with the rear tires spinning when crews arrived. The truck was raised at an angle on top of debris and officers smelled burnt rubber from the tires.
Authorities found both Hughes and a 63-year-old man trapped under the truck.
They were able to rescue the man and take him to the hospital. Hughes died after "extensive rescue attempts," the statement said.
Police alleged Modine didn't respond or react to firefighters' or officers' directions to turn off the car engine. Firefighters reached through the window to shut off the truck. When crews pulled Modine from the truck, officers smelled an "overwhelming" odor of alcohol. They said Modine's eyes were glassy and red.
Modine was taken to Salem Health, where medics did a blood draw and measured a 0.24 BAC. Drivers age 21 and over are considered legally drunk when their blood alcohol level is .08 or more, Oregon law states.
Investigators allege Modine's vehicle struck and sheared off a power pole on the corner of Lockhaven and Train Avenue, which will cost more than $500 to repair.
Modine faces charges of first-degree manslaughter, second-degree assault, aggravated driving while suspended or revoked, DUII and second-degree criminal mischief.
This is a developing story.
Virginia Barreda is the breaking news and public safety reporter for the Statesman Journal. She can be reached at 503-399-6657 or at vbarreda@statesmanjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter at @vbarreda2.
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Driver with DUII history arraigned in second fatal DUII crash
