HILLSBORO -- A Washington County grand jury has indicted Paige Couch of Vancouver on manslaughter charges for an accident Jan. 8 that killed a 10-year-old boy.
She was charged with first-degree manslaughter, second-degree assault, third-degree assault, felony DUII and reckless driving. She remains in jail with no bail.
The boy was killed, his mother critically injured, and Couch arrested and accused of DUII in the three-car accident on SW Canyon Road near Linden Road.
Vera Kardashov, 48, and two children, one of them 10-year-old David Kardashov, were in an Acura. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Vera Kardashov was first listed in critical condition. She later improved to fair condition. She suffered a lacerated spleen, a large laceration to her left leg and multiple bruises and cuts.
Son Alex, 15, was released from the hospital with minor bumps and bruises and cuts.
Officers determined that the eastbound Avalanche driven by Couch crossed the center line about 7:50 p.m. and side-swiped a Toyota Prius. The Avalanche continued on and hit the Acura TL sedan.
The left front wheel of the Avalanche had been sheared off, she said. The Acura was heavily damaged on the driver side. The family had to be extricated from the car by Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue crews.
No one in the other two vehicles was hurt, Yazzolino said.
Those who were in the Avalanche were all standing outside it when officers arrived and initially were uncooperative in identifying the driver, she said.
Officers concluded that Couch, 38, was behind the wheel of a Chevy Avalanche. Couch showed signs of "alcohol impairment," said Beaverton police spokeswoman Pam Yazzolino.
She later pleaded not guilty in court and was on suicide watch.
Both Alex and David were home schooled, but David did receive some additional services from Raleigh Hills Elementary.
