A 20-year-old Port Ludlow man has entered a pleading of “not guilty” to vehicular assault following a pickup truck rollover crash on Cape George Road in late January that left a female passenger with a broken hip.

Dane Josef Deming was arraigned on the single felony count during an appearance Feb. 4 in Jefferson County Superior Court.

Authorities allege that Dane Josef Deming was under the influence at the time he was driving a Ford F-150 pickup truck and went off the road shortly before 5:30 a.m. Jan. 26.

Two female passengers in the truck were hurt in the crash, and one was eventually taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for treatment.

Deming appeared to have signs of impairment when questioned after the rollover, according to the statement of probable cause for his arrest, and had bloodshot,  watery eyes, slurred speech, and smelled of intoxicants. He allegedly told a sheriff’s deputy at the crash site he had consumed one White Claw, an alcoholic seltzer earlier that night.

Deming was given an initial breath test that had a reading of .073; two later samples taken at the county jail had readings of .067 and .065. He was later booked into jail for driving under the age of 21 after consuming alcohol.

During Deming’s initial appearance in court following his arrest, he was ordered to have no contact with the passengers who had been in the truck.

At Deming’s recent arraignment, however, his attorney said Deming felt terrible about the crash and wanted to call the passenger who sustained a broken hip to express his remorse.

Ben Critchlow, Deming’s lawyer, said the case wasn’t one where it could be subject to witness tampering.

“He just wants to contact her to express his regret,” Critchlow said of Deming and of the passenger.

But Deputy Prosecutor Melissa Pleimann said that request may not be welcome by the victim’s family.

“They are going through a lot right now,” Pleimann said. 

“She is in a considerable amount of pain and they want Mr. Deming held accountable,” she added.

Superior Court Judge Keith Harper said he wouldn’t immediately change the no-contact order without hearing from the alleged victim.

“We’ll see what happens later,” Harper said.

Deming’s trial has been set for May 2.