Man pleads guilty to vehicular homicide in I-5 crash that killed Blaine resident

A Pierce County man pled guilty to vehicular homicide in an I-5 crash that killed a Blaine resident in July 2020.

Gary Vernon Johnson, 76, pled guilty to one count of vehicular homicide in Whatcom County Superior Court November 23. On July 1, 2020, Johnson was driving intoxicated, which resulted in a head-on collision that killed his brother in the passenger seat, David Bruce Johnson of Blaine, according to court documents. David Johnson was pronounced dead on the scene.

Gary Johnson was driving a silver Lexus when he struck a maroon Toyota Camry sedan near Slater Road in Ferndale. Johnson admitted to drinking at least five beers and taking medication before the crash, according to court documents. The driver of the Toyota Camry, 18-year-old Ilia Castrejon of Ferndale, was transported to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Hospital in Bellingham. Gary Johnson was also transported to the hospital, sustaining a broken sternum and facial injuries before being transported to Whatcom County Jail. He was later released on a $50,000 bail July 4, 2020.

The prosecuting attorney will recommend to the judge that Johnson serve 7.5 years in Department of Corrections community custody, according to Johnson’s plea deal. Johnson is set to be sentenced January 21, 2022.