A woman who drove her car recklessly while drunk, then rear-ended two other road users, only to drive away and leave them lying in the street with serious injuries was sentenced to just 30 days in jail on Tuesday.
The incident happened back in July when 32-year old Lisa Vesely was arrested for Assault, DUII, and Reckless Endangerment. Vesely was driving her car east on SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway when she swerved into Cameron Duff and Jasmine Zamora. The pair were headed home from training at the Alpenrose Velodrome. Zamora, 30, sustained serious back and neck injuries while Duff, 25, escaped with only cuts and bruises.
Vesely claimed she didn’t even know she hit anyone, yet a police statement at the time said she drove back to the scene of the crime, only to drive away again before being arrested at her home. It’s worth noting that Vesely had a blood alcohol level of .17, which is twice the legal limit.
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According to a report in The Oregonian from the sentencing hearing, Vesely plead guilty to felony hit-and-run, a misdemeanor DUII and misdemeanor fourth-degree assault. Here’s more from The O:
Deputy District Attorney Lauren Kemp recommended 30 days in jail, three years of probation and 120 hours of community service
Vesely’s attorney, Lawrence Hunt, asked Judge Angel Lopez to sentence his client to some amount less than 30 days, noting that his client had no previous criminal history, was college-educated and has worked as a caregiver at a retirement center. Hunt said his client is eager to get back to work because she has only $25 left in her bank account after expenses she has incurred hiring him as a privately retained attorney.
As part of her sentence, Vesely’s driver’s license will be suspended for three years because of a 2013 law targeting hit-and-run drivers. Previously, state law called for a one-year suspension.
Also as part of her plea deal, she can ask a judge to reduce her felony hit-and-run conviction to a misdemeanor after 1 1/2 years if she abides by the terms of her sentence.
We’ve reached out to Justine Zamora to get her response to the sentencing and will update this post if/when we hear back.