Matthew Ingle guilty for role in fatal crash

Ingle sentenced to 20 years in state hospital

By Garth Guibord

Pamplin Media Group, Nov 18, 2009, Updated Nov 18, 2009

Submitted photo / Estacada News

A 1987 Toyota 4-Runner driven by Estacada resident Matthew Ingle collided with a 2005 Toyota Corolla driven by Eagle Creek resident Pamela Benson on Highway 26 west of Sandy on April 25. Benson and her 11-year-old daughter Clarice were killed in the accident. In light of his history of mental illness prior to the crash, a Clackamas County judge sentenced Ingle to 20 years at a state hospital.

ADVERTISEMENTS

Judge Thomas J. Rastetter entered a judgment of guilty except for insanity for Matthew D. Ingle, 18, of Estacada for two charges of second-degree manslaughter and one charge of driving under the influence of intoxicants.

The charges stemmed from an April collision in which Ingle, driving a 1987 Toyota 4Runner sport utility vehicle, crashed into a 2005 Toyota Corolla driven by Pamela L. Benson, 42, of Eagle Creek at the intersection of Highway 26 and Orient Drive.

Benson’s 11-year-old daughter, Clarice, was a passenger in the car. Both Pamela and Clarice Benson died in the accident.

Judge Rastetter’s judgment was handed down on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at the Clackamas County Courthouse.

Ingle waived his right to a jury trial in the case, while his attorney, Terrance McCauley, and Deputy District Attorney Steven Mygrant agreed on the facts of the incident, including that there was an underlying mental illness that made Ingle unable to conform his conduct to the requirements of the law at that time.

Rastetter committed Ingle to 20 years at the state hospital; two consecutive 10-year terms for the manslaughter charges, and a one-year term for the DUII charge that will run concurrent with the two other terms. Ingle has been in custody since the fatal wreck.

Ingle also plead guilty for attempting to elude a police officer, unlawful possession of a firearm, reckless driving and recklessly endangering another person, for which he was sentenced to five years probation.

The incidents involving those charges preceded the onset of Ingle’s mental illness, while Ingle was found to be able to assist his lawyer.

The accident

Benson was attempting a left turn from Orient Drive onto eastbound Highway 26. Witnesses told investigating officers that Ingle failed to stop for a red traffic light as he passed through the intersection on westbound Highway 26, colliding with Benson’s vehicle on the driver’s side.

Pamela Benson was using safety restraints, according to Oregon State Police reports, but was pronounced dead at the scene. Her daughter was in the right-rear seat at the time of the accident and was transported by LifeFlight to OHSU where she was pronounced dead.

Passersby helped Ingle out of his damaged vehicle. He had been wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision.

1 | 2 Next Page >>