Woman charged in crash that injured pedestrians

EVERETT — Prosecutors allege a Marysville woman was drunk and high on methamphetamine when her car mowed into a man and three children on an Everett sidewalk in July.

Kelly Oliver, 31, now is charged with two counts of vehicular assault in connection with the July 24 incident. She is expected to make her first appearance in Snohomish County Superior Court later this month.

A witness reported that Oliver was headed north on Broadway when she drove onto the sidewalk. Initially, all four tires were on the sidewalk. Then, Oliver reportedly swerved partially back onto the road and then jumped the sidewalk again.

Her car slammed into the pedestrians.

Chauncey Filbert was walking north on the sidewalk with his son, 16 and his young niece and nephew.

He saw the car coming and was able to push his niece and nephew out of the path of the Pontiac Bonneville. He hit the hood and slid under the car. His son was thrown over the roof of the vehicle.

Oliver reportedly crashed into a light pole. Her vehicle stopped on top of Filbert, Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Tobin Darrow wrote in court papers. Bystanders yelled at her to back up. She did, and again struck Filbert’s son, who had landed behind the car.

Oliver allegedly told police that she swerved off the road to avoid being hit by another vehicle. Officers noticed that Oliver reeked of alcohol and had trouble speaking, Darrow wrote. Oliver reportedly told police that she’d consumed alcohol a couple of hours before the crash. She also allegedly admitted that she had smoked meth within the last two days.

Tests showed that Oliver’s blood alcohol level was over the legal limit, court papers said. She also tested positive for methamphetamine.

Filbert suffered a broken leg and the flesh on the other leg was filleted to the bone, requiring skin and muscle grafts.

His son also suffered a broken leg that required surgery. His niece, 8, was diagnosed with a broken foot and needed stitches to close a wound on her scalp. Her brother, 2, also needed stitches for a cut to his head.

Oliver was not hurt.

Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com.

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