Habitual DUII Driver Cited Again After Sunday Crash

Oregon State Police cited the man for DUII Felony Habitual Offender (6 DUII convictions in less than 10 years).

(GRAND RONDE) - A Depoe Bay man received minor injuries and was cited by Oregon State Police to appear on multiple charges including felony DUII following a single vehicle crash Sunday afternoon along Highway 18 west of Grand Ronde.

The man who had six prior DUII convictions within the last ten years, allegedly left the scene and hid from police but was found about 30 minutes later.

OSP says at approximately 3:18 PM, a 1987 Mercedes driven by 54-year-old David Arrambide, from Depoe Bay, was eastbound on Highway 18 near milepost 13 when it went off the eastbound shoulder and struck a tree.

Numerous people who had witnessed erratic driving prior to the crash stopped to help.

Arrambide reportedly asked for a ride to avoid the responding police. When no ride was offered he walked away.

Upon arrival of Oregon State Police, Arrambide could not be found until nearly 30 minutes later when he was located away from the crash hiding in a ditch under bushes.

Arrambide was transported by ambulance to North Lincoln Hospital in Lincoln City with minor injuries.

He was later transferred to Good Samariton Regional Medical Center in Corvallis.

Arrambide was cited in lieu of custody by OSP Trooper Mark McDougal on the following charges:

* DUII Felony Habitual Offender (6 DUII convictions in less than 10 years) * Reckless Driving * Reckless Endangering Another Person (2 counts) * Driving While Suspended (misdemeanor) * Driving Uninsured

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Hank Ruark March 14, 2007 6:49 pm (Pacific time)

G.M.: Your excellent response appreciated; I agree with "ingrained" but do not fear revolution. In fact, believe that is now "the only way" we have left, on about same level as did our '76 counterparts. Appreciate your ongoing efforts "to catch 'em" and send you the best...perhaps joint effort can still save us all. What else is left ?? !!

Grey March 13, 2007 12:35 pm (Pacific time)

Hank, I must be able to decipher your writing, 'cause I acutally understood that one :-) The only problem is, the special interest and economic system you refer to has been so ingrained and imbedded in the social law system that the only way to affect true change is revolution and that's not a path I want. Once in a countries history is enough. We are closer to a civil insurrection as it is and that scares me enough to worry about my kids. I work everyday to catch these criminals, but when I read a stunner like this one I feel like the only thing happening is the sand falling back into my face as I claw for the surface.

Hank Ruark March 13, 2007 10:28 am (Pacific time)

G.M.: You're dead-right here...but that attitude is consequence of economic system and special-interest dollars -- as in quote from liquor lobbyist boasting "no tax change in years" and he "can keep it that way." SO "change system" and you remedy consequences. Start by removing "corporate campaign contributions" and draining kicker into Rainy Day Fund...

Grey March 12, 2007 4:30 pm (Pacific time)

The legislature enacted and signed a bill many years ago to make the 6th DUII a felony (based on the fact the first one gets removed by diversion instead of jail). The problem lies with the defense attorney's who use the system against itself, the Admin Law judges at DMV who fail to follow their own departments policies and reinstated the drivers and even the courts. To make a DUII adhere to the felony rule, there has to be a CONVICTION, not just an arrest. Seems to me the government will pander to special interest at the expense of citizen lives.

Curmudgeon March 12, 2007 12:37 pm (Pacific time)

People are being killed and injured in Oregon on a daily basis by drunk drivers. And this situation illustrates exactly why. Neither the legislature nor the courts seem to take DUII very seriously. In practice, there is no such thing as a jail sentence for a first offense. Even a conviction is rare for a first offense. Standard procedure is diversion and dismissal. Perhaps it's time for the PEOPLE to step up with a ballot initiative to make jail or prison mandatory for any DUII conviction, similar to our current Measure 11.

Deb March 12, 2007 12:13 pm (Pacific time)

Too bad he can't be sentenced to spending evenings and weekends in an ER. I'd hate to pay to let him live in jail and I hate the idea of sharing the roads with him.

Marco March 12, 2007 6:44 am (Pacific time)

Six DUI's in ten years. Friend of the judge?

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