OLYMPIA, Wash. — Friends and relatives of Samantha Denny held each other as they gathered in the Thurston County Courthouse Friday afternoon to hear Draedon Jorgenson’s final judgment.
On Nov. 10, 2023, Samantha and her 2-year-old son, Adonis, were killed in the wrong-way crash, which occurred on Interstate 5 southbound near state Route 101.
Court documents say Adonis was pronounced dead at the scene, and Samantha died while being taken to the hospital. Troopers described Jorgenson, who was driving the vehicle that crashed into the Dennys, as having slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, and a strong odor of alcohol.
In court, it was revealed that Jorgenson’s blood alcohol level was nearly three times the legal amount.
“I hate that day,” said Samantha’s mother, Lynne Woodruff, during the sentencing. “It’s most certainly a tragedy, but I think what strikes me the most is that this could’ve been so easily avoided.”
In court, Jorgenson pleaded guilty to two counts of vehicular homicide and one count of vehicular assault.
Afterward, the judge handed down close to the maximum possible time: 13 years and eight months.
Once Jorgenson serves his time in prison, he’ll be required to remain in community custody and undergo substance abuse treatment for an additional 18 months.
But prosecutors also said that this sentencing could only do so much to heal the pain caused by this deadly collision.
“There is no sentence that this court can impose that will make the victims or the families whole,” said Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Filak. There’s no sentence that can bring Samantha back, bring Adonis back, or bring back Samantha’s unborn child.”
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