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Impaired driver in fatal Josephine County crash gets 6-year term Saturday Mar 4, 2017 at 12:01 AM By Shaun Hall Grants Pass Daily Courier A woman who thought twice about driving while impaired by painkillers, then did it anyway and caused a fatal crash, was sentenced to six years in prison Thursday for manslaughter. Kandice Dawn Garcia, 34, of Murphy was sent home early from her restaurant job on March 1 of last year, and was advised not to drive. She then sat for awhile when she realized her impairment, but chose to drive anyway. "She was wrong," Garcia's attorney, Rebecca Peterson, told Circuit Court Judge Pat Wolke during a sentencing hearing in a courtroom at the Josephine County Jail, with about 15 friends and family members of the victim looking on. Thursday was one year and one day since Pamela J. Howard, 63, of Applegate was killed when Garcia's Ford Expedition SUV crossed the center line of the Williams Highway just south of Grants Pass and slammed into Howard's oncoming but smaller Suzuki SUV. "I really miss my sister," Georgia Tull said in the courtroom, as tears came to Garcia's eyes. "I don't think you're an evil person, but you're really selfish." Howard's friend, Kaity Collins, said Pam Howard was honest, giving and loving. She also was a mother and grandmother, and was coming home that night from watching her grandchildren. "Her whole life was about service," Collins said. "I am so sad and lost without her." Another friend, Gail Battaglia, said Howard was "an angel who lived among us." Addressing Garcia, Battaglia urged the defendant to turn her life around. "That's what Pam would want." Garcia is the mother of three children who will be grown to adulthood by the time she's out of prison, Peterson said. After the hearing, Garcia's father, Tommy Garcia, met with Howard's family and friends in the jail lobby. He seemed close to tears. "She's a good person," he told them. "She just did the wrong thing. I'm so sorry." He and his wife, Marilyn, said they had no idea their daughter was abusing pills. "We knew she was in a lot of pain," Tommy Garcia said. "She worked every day taking care of her kids. She was doing so good. I even bought that truck for her. I'm sorry I did. I'm sorry for this other family." He urged others "on this stupid pill kick" to get help. Peterson, the defense attorney, said she has seen it happen "again and again and again" that people abuse opiate pain pills and heroin. "She was trying to get through her work day," Peterson said. "She took too many pills." Deputy prosecutor Joshua Eastman said restaurant management wasn't sure what was wrong with Garcia that day, but that she essentially wasn't being productive. He characterized the exchange between employer and employee as, "You're done working today, don't drive." Someone even asked for her keys, he said. The crash occurred at about 6 p.m., near West Harbeck Road. Howard died at the scene, while Garcia suffered minor injuries. She later pleaded guilty to charges of second-degree manslaughter and driving under the influence of intoxicants. "It's frustrating for me that we can't bring Pam back," Eastman said. "We can't make it right for this family." — Reach reporter Shaun Hall at 541-474-3722 or [email protected]