Wrong-way driver faces judge, families of crash victims

Published 9:17 pm Thursday, June 24, 2010

EVERETT — Camille Spink faced a judge for the first time since a February wrong-way crash on Broadway that killed two people and severely injured two others.

The Bothell woman on Thursday also for the first time had to face the relatives and friends of those killed or injured.

The mourners held photographs and wore T-shirts bearing the names and faces of the dead. They wept, and they shook with anger.

Spink kept her head bowed while she waited to be called to the bench by Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Linda Krese.

Spink, 28, is accused of being drunk when she drove the wrong way and slammed into an oncoming car. A blood test showed her blood-alcohol level was more than double the legal limit.

Sheena Blair, 24, and Martin “Tony” Ramirez, 19, both of Tacoma, were killed in the crash. Luis Reyna and Marco Ortiz, both 18, suffered serious injuries and multiple broken bones. Reyna was in court on Thursday. He wiped away tears and held tight to Blair’s mom.

Spink pleaded not guilty to two counts of vehicular homicide and two counts of vehicular assault. She hasn’t been jailed and prosecutors on Thursday didn’t ask for bail.

“She’s been out of custody for a number of months. She promptly retained an attorney. She showed up today and we have no reason to believe she will flee,” Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Tobin Darrow said.

Krese ordered Spink to stay away from drugs and alcohol. Spink also was ordered not to drive without a valid license or insurance. She is scheduled to be back in court next month. Her trial is scheduled for Sept. 10.

“I’m glad she showed up. We’ll have to wait and see what happens with the criminal justice system,” said Blair’s father, Frank Blair. “I have ultimate faith that justice will be done in this matter.”

Prosecutors allege that Spink ignored flashing lights and traffic signs warning that she was driving the wrong direction before she plowed into an oncoming car.

Spink and a friend were headed to a bar in north Everett when they crashed. The 127-pound woman told Everett police that she drank three glasses of wine at a friend’s house before leaving for the bar.

Spink smelled of alcohol and was stumbling and swaying at the crash scene, Darrow wrote. Her blood was drawn at the hospital and a test showed her blood-alcohol level at .21.

She also admitted smoking marijuana earlier in the day, which was confirmed by the blood test, Darrow said.

Spink told police she didn’t know how the collision happened, court papers said.

Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com.