Driver in deadly Tracyton crash gets 6 1/2 years

Kitsap Sun (Bremerton, WA)

Jan. 12--PORT ORCHARD -- A 27-year-old man sentenced Monday to 6 { years in prison for a car crash where he struck and killed a pedestrian and seriously injured another told a Kitsap Superior Court judge that he was sorry and that he wanted to devote his life to helping people.

Daniel Jordan Luckie Krogman pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide for the death of Alana Kemppainen-Cartwright, 23; her friend Andrew O'Brien was seriously injured in the crash. The two were walking on Tracyton Beach Road during the early hours of Sept. 10, 2014, after leaving the same bar where Krogman had been with friends.

A test of Krogman's blood found he was at twice the legal limit for alcohol and had marijuana and amphetamines in his system. After striking the two people, Krogman stopped the car and tried to help, which Krogman said was the only thing about that day he didn't regret.

He said he has played over the series of events that resulted in the crash and has asked himself what could have prevented the deadly wreck.

"It all comes down to responsibility, and the lack thereof," Krogman said.

In exchange for his guilty plea, prosecutors dropped the vehicular assault charge against Krogman, who has spent the past 16 months in the Kitsap County Jail, an extended period of time awaiting resolution of his case after the private attorney he hired was removed in May 2015 and a public defender was assigned.

Krogman directed apologizes to the family of Kemppainen-Cartwright, as well as to O'Brien, saying he took their futures and their dreams.

"I have taken something I can never give back," Krogman told Judge Leila Mills before she handed down the 78-month sentence, the lowest sentence for which Krogman was eligible.

With all the time he has had to think about the events of that night, Krogman said he is a different person now, "a man with new eyes," and wants to help others change their lives.

"We all have something we are here for, I think I have found my purpose," he said.

Krogman could have faced up to 102 months in prison, but the 78-month sentence had been recommended to Mills by prosecutors and Krogman's attorney, and was given the OK by Kemppainen-Cartwright's mother, Sharon Kemppainen.

Kemppainen said that she struggled with the idea of valuing her daughter's life in terms of years of prison.

However, she could measure her grief in terms of her loss, of never again seeing her daughter dance to the Beatles and never again hear her say, "Mom, you're my best friend."

"I'll grieve for you every day until we meet again," Kemppainen said, describing her daughter as a radiant young woman with a flair for life who was excited to begin a career as a dental hygienist.

Krogman also apologized for how long it took to resolve the case, something his mother, Cindy Luckie, called a "travesty."

Krogman's first attorney, Dennis X. Goss, was removed after prosecutors alleged he had lied to a judge. Krogman then was assigned a public defender.

O'Brien, who suffered a head injury in the wreck and had his heart restarted by paramedics, settled a lawsuit in September for $1.3 million, most of which was paid by the Tracyton Public House's insurance.

O'Brien had intended to become a gym teacher, but that dream was cut short by his injuries.

"His brain is working, but not like it did before," O'Brien's mother, Donna O'Brien, wrote in court documents. "I still have my son, but not like he was before."

Mills told Krogman she believed he was sorry and commended those family members who spoke for their kindness and thoughtfulness.

"The irony is that as brutal and tragic as this is, I can't remember a sentencing where I felt so much love," Mills said.

Prosecutors had offered a similar plea agreement to Krogman in 2015, and Goss said he relayed the offer to Krogman. However, prosecutors told the judge on the case that it appeared Goss had not gone to the jail to visit Krogman and that he was then under investigation for making false statements in court. To prevent a conflict where Krogman could have been a witness for Goss for the perjury accusations, former Superior Court Judge Anna Laurie kicked Goss off the case. Goss has a state Bar Association disciplinary hearing scheduled for May.

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