Wash. man gets nearly 6 years for crash that killed Bend man

(Update: Adding statements from victim’s brother, sister)

A 57-year-old Goldendale, Washington man has pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide and been sentenced to nearly six years in prison for a December 2017 crash on Highway 97 near Sunriver that killed a Bend man.

Shannon Ray Rogers was arrested in Goldendale in March 2018 after a Deschutes County grand jury returned a 13-count indictment charging him with manslaughter, reckless driving, second-degree criminal mischief and nine counts of recklessly endangering another person.

Rogers was driving a silver 2006 Nissan Quest heading north on the morning of Dec. 6, 2017 when his minivan struck the rear of a Toyota pickup driven by Brian Jay Harris, 56, of Bend, Oregon State Police said. Both vehicles veered off the road and hit trees along the highway.

Harris died at the scene and Rogers was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Troopers said at the time that alcohol and speed were being investigated as possible contributing factors.

The later indictment alleged Rogers had a .15% blood alcohol content when tested after the crash, nearly double Oregon’s .08% legal limit.

Rogers pleaded guilty Thursday to six charges: criminally negligent homicide, DUII and four counts of recklessly endangering another person. He was scheduled to go on trial June 4.

Deschutes County Circuit Judge Bethany Flint imposed a 70-month prison term and said he would not be eligible for alternative incarceration programs. He also was sentenced to three years post-prison supervision and alcohol and substance abuse evaluation and treatment, and his driver’s license was permanently revoked.

The victim’s brother and sister had prepared statements read in court, but were not in attendance.

“The hurt you have put on our family is unspeakable,” Harris’s brother, Phillip Harris, wrote. “My question is why? Why are you still alive, and my brother is gone? I hope you die in jail, and not breathe air as a free man again. If you had a conscience, Brian would still be alive.”

His sister, Lucinda Vanosten, wrote she is in counseling “to work through the grief” and that she hopes he goes to AA meetings, “and I truly hope you never drink and drive again.”

Rogers did not speak before his sentencing, when given the opportunity, prosecutors said.