Pierce County man pleads guilty to Whatcom wrong-way vehicular homicide on I-5
A Pierce County man who drove the wrong way on Interstate 5 in northern Whatcom County, causing a fatal accident in July 2020, has pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide.
Gary Vernon Johnson, 76, of Graham, pleaded guilty Wednesday, Nov. 23, to one count of vehicular homicide, a felony, in Whatcom County Superior Court. Johnson’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Jan. 21, 2022.
Washington State Patrol received several calls shortly after 8:20 p.m. on July 1, 2020, about a wrong-way driver in a silver 1998 Lexus GS going southbound in the northbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 261, just north of Slater Road. Several minutes later, State Patrol began receiving calls that the Lexus had hit a red 2001 Toyota Camry head-on, according to previous reporting in The Bellingham Herald.
Johnson was identified as the driver of the Lexus, according to court records. His passenger, 73-year-old David B. Johnson of Blaine, died at the scene, according to State Patrol and court records.
Gary Johnson was unresponsive when law enforcement and aid arrived on scene, according to court records. Johnson was taken to St. Joseph hospital where it was determined he had a broken sternum and nose, court records state.
Johnson also admitted to drinking at least five beers and taking medication before driving, the records state.
The driver and sole occupant of the Camry, 18-year-old Ilia M. Castrejon, of Ferndale, was also taken to St. Joseph hospital, where she was treated and released.
