Vehicular homicide draws 15-month term

By Jim Haley

Herald Writer

A drive into the woods for a summer evening party 17 months ago was costly for Jamie Laffey and Ryan A. Meyers.

Laffey, a 17-year-old from Orange City, Fla., lost his life.

Besides the agony of knowing he was responsible, Meyers learned Tuesday he also would lose up to 15 months of freedom.

Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Larry McKeeman sentenced Meyers to prison following the now 20-year-old’s guilty plea to vehicular homicide.

Meyers, of Edmonds, was driving a 1989 Ford pickup along a U.S. Forest Service road on Aug. 5, 2000, when the vehicle plunged over a 40-foot embankment not far from Skykomish and came to rest in the Beckler River.

Meyers and two others were in the cab, but Laffey was riding in the truck bed. Laffey was pinned between the truck and a rock in the river, court documents say.

Deputy prosecutor Kathleen Webber said there had been drinking that evening, but she didn’t charge Meyers with being intoxicated, as frequently happens in vehicular homicide cases. Instead, she alleged that he drove the pickup "with disregard for the safety of others."

Among other things, it was several hours after the accident before he arrived at a hospital where a blood sample was taken to determine his alcohol level, she said.

Regardless of the drinking, defense lawyer Marybeth Dingledy told the judge that Meyers had made up his mind to accept responsibility for what he had done. He has no previous criminal history, and state law calls for a prison sentence of between 15 and 20 months. Webber recommended the low end, and that Meyers be responsible for paying restitution when he gets out.

Several family members and friends spoke to the judge on Meyers’ behalf.

Meyers told the judge, "There are no words I can use to describe the sorrow and remorse for making that decision."

McKeeman agreed that the low end of the range was appropriate.

"I get the sense this tragedy was out of character for him," McKeeman said.

The evening started in the Shoreline area, where the four young people set out for a party in the Becker River area. They stopped in Skykomish to buy beer before heading into the woods, court papers say.

By the time they arrived in the woods, it was dark, and Meyers was driving fast enough on the mountain roads to make some of his passengers worry about their safety, Webber said in the court papers.

You can call Herald Writer Jim Haley at 425-339-3447

or send e-mail to haley@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

New Greater Everett Chamber of Commerce CEO CEO Wendy Poischbeg speaks at a kick off event on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Everett Rising’: Wednesday’s chamber luncheon to showcase a new era of growth.

The Greater Everett Chamber of Commerce is beginning its efforts… Continue reading

The Edmonds School District building on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds School District faces estimated $8.5 million deficit

The shortfall is lower than previous years, but the effects are “cumulative,” Superintendent Rebecca Miner said.

Hundreds rally against Trump on Presidents Day in Everett

People lined Broadway with signs and flags, similar to other protests across the country

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Alina Langbehn, 6, center, and Vera A., 6, right, sit on a swing together at Drew Nielsen Neighborhood Park after school on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council votes to renovate Drew Nielsen Park

Construction on the $345,000 upgrade could start as early as this fall.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

Northshore School District bus driver Stewart O’Leary pictured next to his buses shattered drivers side windshield on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Put me in, coach’: Bus driver back at work after struck by metal bar

Stewart O’Leary, a Northshore employee, has received national attention for his composure during a frightening bus trip.

Lynnwood councilor Joshua Binda speaks during a Lynnwood City Council meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Does the Lynnwood Council VP live in Lynnwood? It’s hard to say.

Josh Binda’s residency has been called into question following an eviction and FEC filings listing an Everett address. He insists he lives in Lynnwood.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.