The driver of a vehicle that police say crossed into an oncoming lane and struck a car killing two teenagers last week told investigators after the crash, “I think I passed out” and that she had a “rough couple of days,” according to newly filed court records.
Katelyn Deslandes, 23, of Island Pond pleaded not guilty Tuesday to two charges of negligent operation of a motor vehicle with death resulting during a virtual arraignment from Orleans County Superior criminal court in Newport. Each charge carries up to 15 years behind bars, if convicted.
Deslandes took part in the hearing by phone from Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire, where she is recovering from injuries from the crash.
Police say Deslandes was driving a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu west on Route 105 a little before 8:45 p.m. Wednesday when she crossed the center of the road, driving into the eastbound lane. She fatally struck Logan Cota, 18, of Newport, who was driving a 2011 Hyundai Sonata, and his passenger Taylor Warren, 18, of Lunenburg, according to police.
Sgt. Joshua Mikkola of the Vermont State Police submitted an affidavit in support of the charges against Deslandes that became public Tuesday, revealing new details about the crash.
Mikkola wrote that when he asked Deslandes if she had been traveling west at the time of the crash she replied, “Yeah,” adding, “I think I passed out” and that she had a “rough couple of days.”
She denied consuming any alcohol or drugs, according to the affidavit, though Mikkola wrote in the filing that he observed signs in Deslandes’ eyes and speech that suggested she was impaired.
Later, according to the sergeant, Deslandes reported using heroin the day before the crash and marijuana earlier on the day of the crash.
Orleans County State’s Attorney Jennifer Barrett said in the court Tuesday that she wanted $10,000 cash bail set for Deslandes. Toxicology testing is pending, the prosecutor said.
“We have been able to confirm that she had THC in her system,” Barrett said, “but we have not tested yet for opiates.”
“(Deslandes) admitted to consuming heroin within 24 hours of the crash, although we don’t know if she was under the influence of heroin at the time of the crash,” the prosecutor said.
Also, Barrett told the judge, Deslandes had another recent motor vehicle crash in which she had driven off the road and had to be helped out by a good Samaritan.
Sam Swope, Deslandes’ attorney, said during the hearing Tuesday his client had longstanding ties to the community and only had one prior conviction for retail theft. He argued against the imposition of cash bail, telling the judge his client was of “modest means” and could not post $10,000 cash bail.
“In terms of the THC in her system,” the defense attorney said, “my understanding is that, you know, THC can linger in one’s system and not necessarily be an indication of intoxication at the time, so I would respectfully ask the court to take that with a grain of salt.”
Judge Lisa Warren did not grant the $10,000 cash bail requested by the prosecutor. Instead, Deslandes was released on several conditions, including a $10,000 unsecured bond and prohibition on driving a motor vehicle.
Mikkola, in his affidavit, wrote that in a search of Delandes’ vehicle in addition to finding marijuana, investigators also discovered a prescription bottle with no labeling containing two orange pills later determined to be Novox, a drug used to treat animals, typically pets, in pain.
A search of the Sonata the teens were in revealed 15 Bud Light cans, including several that were open and empty, the sergeant wrote. “It was unclear if they opened as a result of the crash and/or the cold weather,” he said.
They also found 14 Twisted Tea cans in the car, Mikkola wrote, with one open and empty.
“No other noteworthy items were discovered in the vehicle,” the affidavit stated.
A woman also approached him at the scene, Mikkola wrote, wearing a green safety vest whom he assumed worked with the ambulance service. She reported that when Cota was first found in the vehicle, he had a beer can in his hand, Mikkola said.
A record check, according to the affidavit, showed that Cota’s driver’s license had been civilly suspended.
“The primary cause of the crash is Deslandes failed to maintain her lane of travel,” Mikkola wrote in the filing.
None of the three individuals in the crash was wearing a seat belt at the time, according to investigators.
Deslandes called 911 reporting the crash, the affidavit stated, telling the dispatcher, “I just hit someone.”
At another point in the call, the filing stated, Deslandes “frantically” asked the dispatcher, “Am I going to go to jail?”
