Family Doesn’t Want Charges In Fatal Wreck Relatives Don’t Blame Husband, Who Was Driving, But He’s Likely To Face Vehicular Homicide Count

Relatives of a Spokane woman killed in a car wreck said Tuesday they don’t blame her husband, who’s accused of causing the crash by driving drunk.

The parents and sister of Caryle Nielsen-Sligar said authorities should not pursue charges against Todd Sligar, her husband of three years.

“He needs help. He doesn’t need to go to jail,” said Gayle Waner, Nielsen-Sligar’s sister.

Barbara Nielsen, the victim’s mother, said Sligar is a “wonderful man who loved my daughter very much.”

“He said, ‘I want her back,”’ Barbara Nielsen said. “She wouldn’t want this. We’re not charging him.”

County prosecutors, however, plan to charge Sligar with one count of vehicular homicide, driving under the influence and two counts of vehicular assault.

Witnesses said Sligar smelled of alcohol after he lost control of the family car on a gravel road near Nine Mile Dam and smashed into a tree on Sunday.

Nielsen-Sligar died at the scene. The couple’s two children, who were riding in the back seat, were badly hurt. No one in the car was wearing a seat belt.

Michael Nielsen, 12, sustained head and internal injuries and was still in the intensive care unit at Deaconess Medical Center on Tuesday.

Tara Lynn Sligar, who had abdominal injuries and abrasions, was still in the hospital but doing better, the family said.

State troopers took the 31-year-old Sligar into custody Tuesday morning when he was released from Deaconess after being treated for a bruised lung.

Sligar did not answer questions as he was led in handcuffs to the back of a patrol car and driven away.

WSP Sgt. Chris Powell said Sligar was allowed to visit his daughter before he was taken into custody.

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