A man who admitted to driving impaired in a car crash that killed his father in West Salem was sentenced recently to serve 70 months in prison.

David J. Nelson, 25, pleaded guilty Aug. 29 in Polk County Circuit Court to criminally negligent homicide and driving under the influence of intoxicants. One charge of second-degree manslaughter was dismissed as part of his guilty plea.

Judge Monte Campbell sentenced Nelson the same day to nearly six years in prison for negligent homicide and six months in jail for driving intoxicated. The sentences were ordered to be concurrent.

He will also serve three years of post-prison supervision, according to the sentencing document.

Oregon State Police initially described Nelson as a Salem resident, but court records show his listed address is in Bend.

The fatal crash happened around 12:23 a.m. on Oct. 8, 2023.

Nelson was driving with his father, David L. Nelson, 55, of Salem, at estimated speeds of more than 100 mph on Highway 22 just outside of West Salem when the car veered into westbound traffic before spinning around on the highway and crashing into an embankment, statements from police and prosecutors show.

Neither Nelson or his father were wearing seatbelts, and both men were ejected from the car during the crash. His father died at the scene.

Nelson told a witness of the crash his father was the passenger, but later told medical staff and police officers his father was the driver, according to an Oregon State Police trooper’s affidavit.

When Nelson was taken to Salem Hospital, staff found his blood alcohol level to be 0.12%, above the legal limit of 0.08%. Nelson also tested positive for fentanyl, a state memorandum said.

Nelson and his father had spent time at a Salem bar and drank a beer and two shots of whiskey before driving, Nelson told police, according to officer statements.

A state trooper said he smelled alcohol on Nelson’s breath and that he had “watery bloodshot eyes,” the memorandum said.

Idaho State Police arrested Nelson in Kootenai County Jan. 27 on a warrant in the fatal crash case.

At the time of his arrest, Nelson was on probation in Deschutes County for falsifying drug tests.

Since the Salem crash, Nelson has been accused of causing a second crash while intoxicated.

He currently has an open case in Deschutes County for a crash in November 2024 that seriously injured a woman, according to court records. He is also accused of possessing fentanyl in that case.

An indictment filed Aug. 12 charges Nelson with third-degree assault, reckless driving, criminal mischief and drug possession. He has a plea hearing scheduled for Oct. 1.

Nelson has previous criminal convictions for fourth-degree assault, domestic violence strangulation and reckless driving, Salem Reporter previously reported. 

He is currently awaiting placement at a state prison, according to Department of Corrections records.

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Man charged with driving impaired, killing father in 2023 crash in West Salem

Salem man killed, another injured after driving off Highway 22 into embankment

Contact reporter Madeleine Moore: [email protected].

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