Woman sentenced to prison time after jury found her guilty of vehicular homicide

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Kaitlyn Rose Johnston, age 29 and of Kelso, was found guilty by a jury in October 2023 of a class-A felony charge of vehicular homicide with disregard for the safety of others. On February 6th, she was sentenced to 18 months in prison with credit for time served followed by 18 months in community custody. The standard sentencing range was determined to be 15 to 20 months with the maximum of a life sentence and fine of $50,000.

The charge stemmed from a 2017 car versus pedestrian fatality incident on Old Fairhaven Parkway.

According to an affidavit of probable cause filed by prosecutors in Whatcom County Superior Court, first responders were dispatched to a report of a vehicle versus pedestrian collision in the 2800 block of Old Fairhaven Parkway (SR11) about 7:15pm on January 29, 2017.

Witnesses reported the pedestrian had been walking in a crosswalk with her dog on a leash. She had activated the crosswalk’s flashing lights prior to entering the crosswalk and had almost reached the middle of the first lane when she was struck by a Nissan Altima. The vehicle that struck her slowed and came to a stop about 200 feet away from the crosswalk after the collision.

The pedestrian was transported to PeaceHealth St Joseph Medical Center where she was pronounced dead.

Johnston was identified as the driver of the Nissan. She told officers she had not been speeding nor was distracted and had not seen the flashing lights at the crosswalk. She did not appear to be impaired according to officers at the scene.

Johnston was issued a summons about 17 months later, on June 11, 2018, to appear in court where she was being charged with vehicular homicide. She appeared in court as required on June 29, 2018, and was booked and released from the Whatcom County Jail that same day.

A jury trial was held and a verdict of guilty issued on October 11, 2023.

Johnston was booked into Whatcom County Jail on the day of her sentencing and transferred to the Washington Correctional Center for Women 2 days later to serve out the remainder of the sentence.