Severe injuries inflicted on two motorcycle riders prompt stern legal response in Mendocino County.
UKIAH, Monday, July 17 – Ukiah resident sentenced to 88 months in state prison for methamphetamine-impaired collision resulting in severe injuries.
Last week, the Mendocino County Superior Court sentenced 71-year-old Harvey Lee Rogers from Ukiah to 88 months in state prison. Rogers had made a last-minute plea change, admitting to driving under the influence of methamphetamine and causing severe injuries to two motorcycle riders.
Originally set for May 22nd, the jury trial was cancelled when Rogers accepted criminal responsibility four days beforehand. The accident occurred on July 22, 2021, when Rogers abruptly turned his vehicle in front of an approaching motorcycle.
The motorcycle driver faced dire consequences, experiencing cardiac arrest and respiratory failure post-collision. He slipped into a coma for three days and spent a month hospitalized. His injuries were extensive: multiple torn ligaments, a broken neck, shattered heel bone, a brain aneurism, and a broken femur that now has a titanium rod fixed with twenty-three screws.
The motorcycle’s passenger also endured significant injuries. Despite wearing a helmet, she suffered a shattered femur, witnessed bone protruding from her leg, and had brain swelling. Hospitalized for a month, she has undergone multiple surgeries since the crash and struggles with daily mobility.
Given the severity of the injuries and Rogers admitting responsibility, the crime is classified as violent under Penal Code section 667.5(c). Thus, any credits towards early parole are limited to a maximum of 15% of the total sentence. This means Rogers is expected to serve just over six years in prison.
The Ukiah Police Department and the California Highway Patrol were responsible for the crash investigation. Acknowledgments were given to medical first responders and Ascertain Forensics at Redwood Toxicology Laboratory, Santa Rosa, for analyzing Rogers’ blood sample. They were prepared to testify about the methamphetamine levels and the associated aggressive driving tendencies if the case had gone to trial.
The case was overseen by District Attorney David Eyster, who would have presented the evidence if Rogers had opted for a trial.
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