Heavy alcohol use linked to Freeland collision

A 34-year-old Federal Way woman’s blood-alcohol level was at more than three times the legal limit when she caused an accident on South Whidbey last December that seriously injured three people, court documents state.

A 34-year-old Federal Way woman’s blood-alcohol level was at more than three times the legal limit when she caused an accident on South Whidbey last December that seriously injured three people, court documents state.

Prosecutors charged Danyal L. York in Island County Superior Court on March 5 with three counts of vehicular assault and one count of reckless endangerment.

If convicted of the charges, York could face from 15 to 20 months in prison under the standard sentencing range.

On the evening of Dec. 21, 2012, York drove her 1996 Nissan SUV south on Highway 525 in the Freeland area after drinking heavily, according to the report by Detective Craig Cardinal with the Washington State Patrol.

York drove her vehicle into the other lane of traffic, running northbound drivers off the road and finally colliding head-on with a 2001 Toyota car driven by Brian Shore, a Seattle resident.

Shore, his 11-year-old daughter and another passenger, Daisy Ko, were seriously injured.

Shore sustained life-threatening injuries and multiple fractures. Ko sustained internal bruising and internal injuries. The girl suffered fractures to her clavicle and a rib, a collapsed lung and internal bruising, the report states.

York and her 5-year-old son, who was riding in the backseat, were also injured in the crash, but the report doesn’t indicate the seriousness.

Cardinal wrote that a half-gallon of vodka was found inside York’s car.

Toxicology results showed that York’s blood-alcohol level was 0.26, while 0.08 is the legal limit.

In addition, the test showed she had THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, in her blood.