Witnesses took the stand Thursday during the trial for a Vancouver father accused of vehicular homicide in the sledding death of his 9-year-old daughter.

The medical examiner who checked Madison Gecho after she died 14 months ago testified, as did a neighbor who saw Peter Gecho's truck driving in circles on the school field where the girl died.

Peter Gecho had been illegally towing his daughter and a teenage boy on an inner tube behind his pick-up truck in January of 2006 when he made a fast turn, flinging his daughter and the boy into a brick bench at Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Vancouver, Wash., court documents show.

She was 9 years old.

The medical examiner testified that the blow knocked the girl out instantly and killed her.

During opening statements on Wednesday, the prosecutor said Peter Gecho was reckless, drunk and showed no regard for safety the day his daughter died.

Gecho's defense lawyer said his client is a loving father who cared deeply about his daughter and her death was simply an accident.

According to the criminal summons, Peter Gecho wore a ski helmet while he drove the pickup, but Madison Gecho had no head protection.

Deputies believe alcohol was a factor in the crash.

Instead of calling 911, Gecho drove his daughter to Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital, which does not have a trauma center. Hospital staff said they smelled alcohol on his breath.

An ambulance transported Madison to Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland. After doctors told Gecho his daughter might not survive, he called his lawyer, according to court documents.

Madison was soon pronounced dead.

Peter Gecho waived his right to a jury trial.

If found guilty of vehicular homicide, a person with no prior criminal convictions faces a standard sentence range of 21 to 27 months in prison.