Spokane7
61°
December 9, 2010 in City
Woman convicted in crash that injured Spokane detectives
Tonia S. Vansant, 38, was convicted of three counts of vehicular assault for this July 16 crash at Division Street and Sharp Avenue. Three Spokane police detectives were injured.
(Full-size photo)
A jury today convicted a Spokane woman of three counts of vehicular assault for a crash that injured three police detectives last summer.
Tonia S. Vansant, 38, faces 33 to 43 months in prison when she’s sentenced Jan. 6, said Deputy Prosecutor Mary Ann Brady.
Vansant has been in jail since July 16, when she ran a red light at Division Street and Sharp Avenue at nearly 40 mph and t-boned an unmarked patrol car driven by Detective Mark Burbridge of the Spokane Police Department’s major crimes unit.
Burbridge strained his back, sexual assault Detective Jan Pogachar broke her pelvis and Douglas Orr, a computer forensics specialist for the sexual assault unit, perforated a lung and fractured his ribs, collar bone and sternum. All have returned to work, though Burbridge likely will undergo surgery soon, Cpl. Dave Adams said.
Vansant had traces of cocaine in her blood system, but her public defender, Jeff Compton, disputed whether she was intoxicated at the time of the crash.
The jury of seven women and five men couldn’t agree whether Vansant was intoxicated or whether she was driving in a reckless manner, but all agreed she was driving with a disregard for the safety of others and convicted her of the three felonies.
“Sorry it didn’t turn out better,” Compton told Vansant before she was taken back to jail in handcuffs.
Vansant cried and told her family she loved them. One woman cried and said “she has five kids; it was just an accident,” but family members declined to speak to a reporter afterward.
The jury deliberated for about three hours beginning Wednesday afternoon. The trial began Tuesday morning. Judge Jerome Leveque presided.
Sex trafficking suspects released as probe continues 
misjustice on December 09 at 1:36 p.m.
Wow, that was relatively swift justice!
JayNW on December 09 at 1:43 p.m.
who cares how many kids she had- and it was an accident b/c she was high on cocaine. Maybe the question her family should be asking, is why is this woman allowed to have custody of her children when she is a cocain user/addict. And who wants to bet this woman also receives state funds to help raise those kids.
It boggles my mind that people think they can do whatever they want and not take any responsibility.
Coffee on December 09 at 2:47 p.m.
Vansant had traces of cocaine in her blood does not = high on cocaine or a addict. If I took a blood test today I might test positive for cocaine, it would be false and the pain medicine I am taking in no way reduces my ability to drive or operate equipment.
“The jury of seven women and five men couldn’t agree whether Vansant was intoxicated or whether she was driving in a reckless manner, but all agreed she was driving with a disregard for the safety of others and convicted her of the three felonies” = her lawyer was not as good as the prosecutor.
zelda on December 09 at 3:51 p.m.
I wonder how fast she was going when she hit the patrol car. It’s lucky nobody (including the convicted driver) was killed.
If she’s been in jail since July, the bond must have been very steep, she had a prior record or she was deemed to be a flight risk. Plus, seriously injuring three cops isn’t taken lightly.
Well, we’ll see what kind of sentence she gets.
meghannc on December 09 at 4:36 p.m.
Police issued a news release with Vansant’s speed, and the story has been updated.
zelda on December 09 at 5:11 p.m.
Thanks, Meghann. Doesn’t seem that fast (still, 10 mph over the limit) but side-impact collisions can be very bad.
PlanB on December 09 at 6:37 p.m.
Wow. Get in an accident and get convicted of three felonies months later.
Kill a citizen who has committed no crime, and so long as you have a badge you get a paid vacation.
What a truly bizarre system we have.
misjustice on December 10 at 8:20 a.m.
@ PlanB; Truly bizarre…
stupidityhater on December 15 at 5:04 p.m.
As someone that knows Tonia’s history, I can tell you that she is in fact a Cocaine addict and a habitual user of the drug.
As far as her 5 kids goes she has not been able to take care of them. Her mother has custody of the 3 eldest children. One of which was born addicted to Cocaine and nearly died (thanks to his mother using during her pregnancy). Her 4th child was taken away from her twice, due to drug problems. She got her back a couple of years ago but then started using drugs again (although it is doubted she ever really stopped in the first place). She had custody of her youngest 2 children when she was arrested.
In response to several user comments:
YES - she was recieving all sorts of state aid. She was getting daycare grants, living in state housing, receiving food stamps etc.
Yes- she was considered a flight risk. Her bond was set at $50,000 if I remember correctly. She was considered a flight risk due to her history of missed court appearances and well as a history of drug and various other charges.
Also, she is prone to seizures and her doctor advised her not to drive because of them. Advice which she ignored.
Honestly, her kids are better off without her!!! Citizens are better off with her off of the streets and taxpayers are better off
not paying for her lifestyle choices.
JOHNSTER on January 06 at 10:41 p.m.
Dear Stupidity hater,
I am a family member of tonias and yes she has had her struggles but you are out of your mind if you think she doesnt love those kids. Toxicoligy stated she had used the night before and wasnt under influence at time and she was not drunk it was negative. The family feels bad for the offficers involved and so does she. She has a history of siezures and considering the facts of the case i have heard thats what happened. Thos kids need her and her family is behind her. She will have a great support ciscle when she is out and that will include her kids. How can a stupidity hater disregard someones mistakes she has never done any time she has made some bad choices however but i think this would be an eye openner for anyone. if that means she gets help from the state so be it!!! Theres alot of people on state help that are abusing it and shouldnt be. She has done her time and you shouldnt be so quick to judge others hater maybe look in the mirror odviously you dont know her as well as i do. i havent been around much but after seeing her go through this she has my support and I will assist in any and every way to make damn sure those kids are safe and returned to her mother. I think the family reuniun is far overdue!!!!!!!! We are all human and forgiveness is important. Tonia will make some possitive changes and Im gonna make certain she and her kids are safe with me.