A 20-year-old Port Ludlow man will be arraigned later this week for vehicular assault after he crashed his truck on Cape George Road and a passenger was taken to the hospital with a broken hip.

Authorities allege that Dane Josef Deming was under the influence at the time of the crash.

Deming, a 2020 graduate of Port Angeles High School, was arrested the morning of Tuesday, Jan. 26.

A resident on Cape George Road called 911 just after 5:30 a.m.
Jan. 26 and told dispatchers he heard what sounded like a crash.

The resident later told a sergeant from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office he saw the truck go off the road and Deming crawl out of it after the vehicle rolled over on its side.

Two other passengers, both females, were in the Ford F-150 pickup truck, and one was seriously injured. Emergency responders initially hoped to have her airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, but due to the fog, she was taken to St. Michael Medical Center in Silverdale.

The passenger was eventually transferred to Harborview with a broken hip.

When questioned by police, Deming said he had been driving. He appeared to have signs of impairment, according to the statement of probable cause for his arrest, and had bloodshot and watery eyes, slurred speech, and smelled of intoxicants. Deming was also unsteady on his feet and allegedly told the officer he had consumed one White Claw, a seltzer beverage that contains alcohol, 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 booked into jail for driving under the age of 21 after consuming alcohol.

Deming made his first appearance Wednesday, Jan 26 in Jefferson County Superior Court via a video link from the county jail.

Judge Keith Harper set Deming’s arraignment for the felony count of vehicular assault for Friday, Feb. 4.

Deputy Prosecutor Melissa Pleimann, noting Deming’s driving record, asked Harper to set bail at $10,000.

Pleimann said Deming had been cited for distracted driving in July 2021, and also had a second-degree negligent driving incident from March 2020.

While Deming had no criminal history, she said Deming had been “joy riding” the night of the crash and said his actions resulted in serious injuries to one of his passengers.

“These are very serious charges and bail is appropriate,” Pleimann said.

Scott Charlton, an attorney representing Deming, said Deming was a recent high school graduate who was working two jobs.

“Frankly, I’m surprised the state is asking for bail. Mr. Deming has no criminal history whatsoever,” Charlton said.

He also noted that hearings were pending for the driving infractions mentioned by the prosecutor’s office.

“I would remind the prosecutor we’re not here for sentencing,” Charlton said.

“This is a serious charge; we’re not making light of that,” he said, and asked the judge to let Deming be released on his own personal recognizance.

Harper agreed to have Deming released without bail, noting his lack of criminal history.

“Without any warrant history, I have no reason to believe that he won’t comply and won’t appear,” Harper said.

The judge ordered Deming to have no contact with his two passengers, and said Deming would need to provide proof of having an interlock ignition device on his vehicle within 24 hours “or don’t drive.”

Other conditions were placed on his release, including no alcohol or marijuana use and no further law violations.

Conviction of vehicular assault can result in a maximum prison term of 10 years and a $20,000 fine.