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About Seaside signal. (Seaside, Or.) 1905-current | View Entire Issue (July 6, 2018)
2A • July 6, 2018 • Seaside Signal • seasidesignal.com Fatal DUII crash leads to prison Costa sentenced to six years for a young life lost By Jack Heffernan The Daily Astorian A man who killed a Seaside woman in a drunken-driving crash on U.S. Highway 101 last June was sentenced June 28 to more than six years in prison. Christopher Jeremy Costa was driving back to Astoria from Seaside just before 2:30 a.m. after a night of drinking. He crossed the centerline of the highway at an S-curve near Cullaby Lake. He then crashed head-on with a south- bound Toyota Camry driven by Kayla Lynn Weber, 27, of Seaside. The Camry, which was moving at 40 mph, was knocked backward. The Chevrolet pickup Costa was driving flipped over the Cam- ry, slid about 180 feet, came upright after hitting some- thing and caught fire. “Frankly, the defendant is lucky to be alive,” Deputy District Attorney Ron Brown said. Weber died instantly, while Costa managed to escape the truck after sustaining serious injuries. A blood draw at the hospital about one hour after the crash revealed that Cos- ta’s blood alcohol content was 0.16 percent, Brown said. Costa was indicted a few weeks later on charges of first-degree manslaughter, driving under the influence of intoxicants and reckless driv- ing. He faced a maximum of A fatal drunken-driving crash on U.S. Highway 101 led to a six-year prison sentence. Kayla Weber 10 years in prison. However, Costa agreed to plead guilty to second-degree manslaughter and DUII charges and serve the minimum of more than six years as part of a deal with the Clatsop County District Attor- ney’s Office. Not lost on those in the courtroom was the irony that Costa — a student at the time — was driving back to his res- idence at the Tongue Point Job Corps Center, while Weber — a residential adviser at the center — was driving home from work. Some who spoke at Thursday’s hearing talked about Weber’s impact at the job corps. At a memo- Christopher rial, about 50 Costa “visibly shak- en” students stood in line to offer verbal tributes to Lorelei Weber, her mother. Weber lived with her daughter at the time, and they were described as best friends. She declined to say Costa’s name throughout her statement, instead referring to him as a “dumb kid.” “He’s taken the joy out of my life. Together we had hopes and dreams,” Lorelei Weber said. “He affected so many lives. All she was do- ing was driving home from work.” Tita Montero, a Seaside city councilor and former business and community liai- son at the job corps, described herself as a mentor to Weber. She said the fact that Costa was a student made her an- grier. “He was a student there who knew he was not only breaking the rules of the road. He was breaking the rules of his employer and of every- thing he was getting for free at Tongue Point Job Corps Center,” Montero said. Four of Weber’s friends and family also spoke at the hearing. Weber was described as a dependable confidant and a loving person who never wished ill of people. For 16 years, Weber helped take care of homeless ani- mals. Her mother asked Costa to consider volunteering with animals after his prison sen- tence is completed. Kirk Wintermute, Costa’s court-appointed attorney, said he believes his client has the ability to make a positive dif- ference someday. “I’ve been, frankly, im- pressed with Mr. Costa about how positive he’s been and how he’s wanted to do every- thing he can to try to make things right,” Wintermute said. Circuit Court Judge Dawn McIntosh said the incident was heartbreaking for both Weber’s and Costa’s families. “In the blink of an eye, in the split second of a bad de- cision to get behind the wheel of that car, your whole world changed. Their whole world changed, the students at the job corps,” McIntosh said. “The ripple effect is crazy.” Costa did not offer a state- ment Thursday. But during her statement, Lorelei Weber asked him a question. “Did you ever have the honor of meeting my daugh- ter?” she asked. “No,” Costa replied. “Then you missed out.” Two are displaced in Seaside motel fire Abandoned cigarette appears to be the cause By Brenna Visser Seaside Signal BRENNA VISSER A small fire, which appears to have been caused by a forgot- ten cigarette, singed the door frame of one unit at Pine Cove Motel in Seaside June 26. A small fire started by what appears to be a forgot- ten cigarette has displaced a family of two staying at the Pine Cove Motel in Seaside June 26. At about 6:30 p.m., Seaside Fire Department responded to a call reporting small flames and smoke smoldering at the bottom of the door frame outside unit 11 at 2481 U.S. Highway 101. Division Chief Chris Dugan the cause ap- peared to be a “disregarded cigarette,” which was left in a nook near the base of the door outside by the resident a few hours prior. With flames only reaching an inch tall, Dugan said dam- age was minimal and no inju- ries were reported. The fam- ily is temporarily displaced, however, because the flames damaged the door frame enough to where the room could no longer be properly secured. Dugan said the de- partment is reaching out to the Red Cross for services. The family had already left the residence. “They were lucky this didn’t happen at 2 a.m. while they were asleep, where it could have been left smolder- ing a lot longer,” Dugan said. Motel maintenance work- er Ken Hartman said the event was unfortunate, but was thankful it didn’t turn out to be worse. “I suppose it’s a part of the business,” Hartmann sighed, looking at the singed door frame. June 17 2:34 a.m., S. Columbia and Avenue A: A person is arrested and charged with DUII. 9:35 a.m., Twelfth Avenue beach approach: A woman with five outstanding warrants is arrested. 9:39 p.m., 1800 block S. Roosevelt: A theft in the third degree is reported. June 18 3:17 p.m., 400 block First Avenue: Police respond to a request for a welfare check on a baby in distress. Police say the baby was just having a very bad day. June 19 2:47 a.m., N. Prom: Police con- tact subjects reported doing drugs in a restroom. They were indefinitely trespassed from the area. 12:55 p.m., Police headquar- ters: A gold ring found on Ocean Shore is turned in to the police department. 4:42 p.m., Broadway: Caller requests welfare check on subjects thought to be doing drugs in a public restroom. June 20 11 a.m., Police headquarters: A person came in to register as a sex offender. 11:55 a.m., Carousel: A child reported missing is reunited with its parents prior to police arrival. 6:23 p.m., Avenue G: A person is arrested for DUII. June 21 12:48 a.m., Seaside Chamber: A person loitering suspiciously outside the building was asked to move on. June 22 1:28 p.m., Skate Park: Police look for a woman reported to be talking to herself as well as children in the area. They are unable to locate. 2:56 p.m., 800 block Second Avenue: A bicycle thief reported stealing a bike in the area was identified and located by police. The bike owner said he wished to press charges. The purported thief was cited and released. June 23 12:59 a.m., Wahanna: A man reported yelling and screaming about treatment he received at the hospital was cited for disorderly conduct and advised to move along. 3:43 a.m., Lincoln and Avenue A: A couple having a shouting match were reported by a call- er; police were unable to locate. reports a guest at their hotel who called after check out to say they’d accidentally left behind their handgun. Police contact the owner of the gun; a search of the room turned up no results. 9:57 p.m., 1000 block Sixth Av- enue: An assault in the fourth degree is reported. June 25 3:07 a.m., Broadway: A theft in the second degree was reported. 8:22 a.m., Prom: A man report- ed screaming told police he was agitated by other people. He was warned of disorderly conduct. 9:20 a.m., Keepsake Drive: Burglary in the first degree and two counts of identity theft are reported. June 26 7:19 a.m., 800 block N. Lincoln: Theft in the second degree is reported. 8:17 a.m., 400 block S. Roo- sevelt: Theft in the second degree is reported. 9:48 a.m., Shilo Inn and the Prom: Police are summoned to break up an argument between two parties regarding removal of sand dollars from the beach. Police separate the people and advise them of disorderly conduct. 9:27 a.m., 400 block S. Roosev- el: Theft in the second degree is reported. 7:18 p.m., 200 block First Ave- nue: Sex crimes are reported. 10:40 a.m., Broadway Middle School: Another phone is dis- covered at the Middle School as well as a Sylvania MP3 player. June 24 2:44 a.m., 400 block N. Prom: A person is arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a weapon with intent to use; crim- inal mischief in the first degree; and reckless endangerment. 3:05 p.m., Avenue A: Caller 10:08 a.m. –10:32 a.m., Broad- way Middle School: Multiple phones are reported found at the Middle School. 11:02 a.m., Broadway Middle School: A gold chain is found at the school gym as well as a silver necklace from “Claire’s.” 11:19 a.m., Broadway Middle School: Child size eyeglasses and black ear buds are discov- Laurelwood Compost • Mulch • Planting MacMix Soil Amendments YARD DEBRIS DROP-OFF (no Scotch Broom) 503-717-1454 34154 HIGHWAY 26 SEASIDE, OR Laurelwood Farm TIRES/WHEELS D EL ’S O .K . 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SECURITY June 28 9:08 a.m., Roosevelt Drive : Police made contact with an individual who violated their probation. The person was sub- sequently charged with failing to report as a sex offender; they were transported to Clatsop County jail. 5:02 p.m., Broadway: Caller re- ports person taking pictures of young girls. Officers on priority call; subject was unable to be located. 503-738-9003 LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED Residential & Commercial: Burglary & Fire Protection, Video Surveillance, Central Station Monitoring, Remote Arm/Disarm LICENSED • BONDED • INSURED Seaside, Oregon • www.CoastalAlarm.net • info@CoastalAlarm.net CCB# 201010 • Reg.# 977689-99 FLOORING CCB# 205283 y ou ou r r w ep alk ut o at n io n 10:26 p.m., Holladay Drive: A person eluding a police officer and then giving false infor- mation to a police officer was cited. June 29 10:54 a.m., Roosevelt Drive: Caller reports a man “acting weird” in front of a business. Of- ficers advise subject of trespass. Subject agrees to move along. 2:32 p.m., N. Wahanna: Minor calls 911 stating he is afraid and no parents are home. The responsible party for the child shows up. No further action taken. 5:38 p.m., Convention Center: Caller reports an elderly woman “barking” at people and making them uncomfortable. Subject said she would stop after talking to police. Flooring Installation Carpet Cleaning 3470 Hwy 101 Suite 102 • Gearhart, Oregon 503.739.7577 • carpetcornergearhart.com STORAGE STORAGE AVAILABLE CANNON BEACH BUSINESS PARK 10’ x 10’ Heated Contact Holly at 503-436-2235