A Metlakatla man was indicted on four felony charges of assault and manslaughter on April 18 stemming from a car crash that happened more than a year ago.
A Ketchikan Superior Court Judge issued a warrant for 54-year-old John E. Savage’s arrest on April 19. The following day, he appeared telephonically before Sitka Magistrate Judge Pamela Stahla-Kernin. During an initial court appearance, Ketchikan District Attorney Alexander Kramarczuk said Savage was intoxicated when he picked up fellow Metlakatla resident Heather Henderson and her 7-year-old niece last April.
“He then sped to the ferry terminal, which is about 15 miles outside of town, and somewhere around mile marker 10, he was going quickly enough, driving recklessly enough that his vehicle actually went airborne, ultimately spun several times over wrecked on the ground. He himself, the defendant, was ejected into a bush or a tree,” said Kramarczuk.
Henderson was also thrown from the vehicle and died at the scene. Savage was medevaced to Seattle for treatment. Kramarczuk said the child was able to crawl out of the wreckage and bystanders took her to the clinic in Metlakatla for treatment, but she was eventually medevaced south as well. The child was able to testify at the hearing, and according to Kramarczuk, appears to have recovered from her injuries.
Savage’s injuries, though, were extensive.
“He is at this point, for all intents and purposes wheelchair bound as a result of the incident,” the District Attorney told the Magistrate Judge.
“The defendant’s conduct, suffice it to say, resulted in the death of at least one person, injury to himself and injury to a child,” Kramarczuk said later in a phone interview, explaining that the year-long delay between the incident and Savage being charged was because the defendant was recovering from his injuries out of state.
The public defender representing John Savage declined to comment.
Savage faces one count of manslaughter and two counts of first degree assault, each of which carry up to 20 years in prison, and one case of third degree assault, punishable by five years and a $50,000 fine.
