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CRIME Drunk driver gets 13 months for hitting pedestrian Victim was critically injured and may have been trying to commit suicide Comment By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Posted May. 13, 2015 at 4:43 PM By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Posted May. 13, 2015 at 4:43 PM » Social News A Central Point man driving home drunk from a bar was sentenced today to 13 months in prison after hitting a pedestrian who may have been trying to commit suicide by stepping in front of his truck. George Vincent Prauss, 34, of the 2500 block of Mistletoe Court was given two months credit for the time he was held in Jackson County Jail after the October 2014 collision. His driver's license will be revoked for one year after he is released. "He was intoxicated and driving home and hit a pedestrian," said defense attorney Garren Pedemonte. "This individual was attempting to commit suicide and happened to pick Mr. Prauss' truck because it was large — and he happened to pick an intoxicated driver." The victim, Christopher Thompson, was left severely injured and lying in a right-turn lane into a Goodwill store on Highway 62. Prauss, who said he was in a blackout state and didn't know he hit a person, drove away from the scene. Thompson was taken to a Portland-area hospital in critical condition and later improved enough to be released. His medical bills of $51,244 will likely be paid by Prauss' vehicle insurance company, according to court testimony. "The victim was injured very seriously and hospitalized," said Jackson County Deputy District Attorney David Orr. Orr said it's not certain Thompson was actually trying to kill himself. Thompson had talked in the past about committing suicide by going into traffic, but he may have just been walking on the sidewalk and then crossed through the turn lane near Goodwill. "Jurors would scratch their chins and say, 'What happened?' Orr said. "Ultimately, I think this is a fair resolution." Orr said Thompson has ongoing mental health issues. Pedemonte said the victim likely was trying to commit suicide. Thompson had broken up with his girlfriend the day of the collision and had sent a text message that he wouldn't be coming home. "In the past, he said he would walk out in front of a truck," Pedemonte said. After the collision, Thompson told police officers that cars on Highway 62 had been swerving around him, indicating he was in the roadway, Pedemonte said. Orr said Prauss habitually got drunk and drove. He had been drinking heavily at the Whiskey River Cafe & Lounge on Table Rock Road. The wait staff cut him off, but he kept trying to get other patrons to buy him drinks. On the Monday after the Saturday night collision, Prauss' roommate contacted Oregon State Police and said Prauss had been highly intoxicated and struck something. His 1997 Dodge Ram pickup was damaged. Oregon State Police found the pickup at F V Martin Trucking Co. in White City where Prauss worked. Strands of human hair were caught in a broken side mirror and a missing chunk from the mirror matched debris found at the collision site, according to an affidavit. In handing down the 13-month prison sentence, Jackson County Circuit Judge Lorenzo Mejia said Prauss could have been sentenced to far longer, but he cooperated with investigators and the victim's intentions the night of the accident were unclear. "You were blotto. I know this doesn't seem like your lucky day, but I could easily see this being assault-two and you doing five years and 10 months," said Mejia, referring to the mandatory minimum prison sentence for second-degree assault under Oregon's Measure 11. "It was just a big mistake," Prauss said, vowing to pursue alcohol treatment. Pedemonte said Prauss took a sip of beer after being released from jail, but has since sworn off alcohol. "Because of this, he said the taste and feeling of it made him sick and he intends to never drink again," Pedemonte said. Staff reporter Vickie Aldous can be reached at 541-776-4486 or [email protected] . Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/VickieAldous . By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Posted May. 13, 2015 at 4:43 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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