MOUNT VERNON — A jury in Mount Vernon says Whatcom County and the state must pay $5.5 million to a woman injured in a crash with a drunken driver.
The jury found Tuesday that Whatcom County was negligent for not better supervising Janine Parker, who was on deferred prosecution for a prior DUI arrest.
The jury found the State Patrol negligent because a trooper who found her drunk drove her home, allowing her to later take a cab back to her car.
Parker was driving on the Mount Baker Highway in January 2007 when she collided with the car driven by Hailey French who was seriously injured and has continuing medical bills.
The Bellingham Herald reports the county will have to pay about $2.8 million, the state $2.6 million and Parker $25,000.
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