Road rage crash gets man jail, probation
A 30-year-old Lincoln man was sentenced to jail time and probation for a road rage incident injured seven people — including himself.
Zachariah M. Degarmo, 30, pleaded no contest in August to felony child abuse and willful reckless driving. He was sentenced Friday.
“We all know what happened here. Two drivers get upset at each other, and it resulted in the worst possible thing,” said his attorney, Joe Nigro.
During the March incident, Degarmo’s SUV rolled five times in a ditch. If everyone had not been wearing seat belts, the accident could’ve led to fatalities, Nigro said.
He said his client feels terrible about what happened and that his family, the people he cares most about, were hurt.
“He knows what he did was wrong,” said Nigro, who argued that incarcerating Degarmo would be a hardship on his family.
Deputy County Attorney Krista Hendrick said the incident revealed Degarmo’s temperament and long history of bad driving. She argued he wasn’t a candidate for probation.
Judge John Colborn, saying he couldn’t ignore the serious nature of the crimes, sentenced Degarmo to 210 days in jail and five years of probation. He also revoked his license for one year and ordered him to take anger management and driving classes. He ordered Degarmo to turn himself in to jail Sunday to give him time to apply for work release.
The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office said Degarmo’s Chevy Suburban and Cynthia Mendoza’s Pontiac Grand Prix were side by side on U.S. 6 near Waverly when they collided.
Both vehicles had been driving fast and in an “erratic and aggressive manner,” according to the sheriff’s office.
Degarmo’s Suburban, carrying five children and a woman, went off the road and rolled. All seven were taken to a Lincoln hospital, including a 4-year-old who was taken by helicopter.
The sheriff’s office said Mendoza, 41, of Lincoln was alone in her car. She was arrested in Waverly after the accident on suspicion of fleeing the scene and is set for bench trial in December.
Reach Lori Pilger at 473-7237 or lpilger@journalstar.com.
Zachariah M. Degarmo, 30, pleaded no contest in August to felony child abuse and willful reckless driving. He was sentenced Friday.
“We all know what happened here. Two drivers get upset at each other, and it resulted in the worst possible thing,” said his attorney, Joe Nigro.
During the March incident, Degarmo’s SUV rolled five times in a ditch. If everyone had not been wearing seat belts, the accident could’ve led to fatalities, Nigro said.
He said his client feels terrible about what happened and that his family, the people he cares most about, were hurt.
“He knows what he did was wrong,” said Nigro, who argued that incarcerating Degarmo would be a hardship on his family.
Deputy County Attorney Krista Hendrick said the incident revealed Degarmo’s temperament and long history of bad driving. She argued he wasn’t a candidate for probation.
Judge John Colborn, saying he couldn’t ignore the serious nature of the crimes, sentenced Degarmo to 210 days in jail and five years of probation. He also revoked his license for one year and ordered him to take anger management and driving classes. He ordered Degarmo to turn himself in to jail Sunday to give him time to apply for work release.
The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office said Degarmo’s Chevy Suburban and Cynthia Mendoza’s Pontiac Grand Prix were side by side on U.S. 6 near Waverly when they collided.
Both vehicles had been driving fast and in an “erratic and aggressive manner,” according to the sheriff’s office.
Degarmo’s Suburban, carrying five children and a woman, went off the road and rolled. All seven were taken to a Lincoln hospital, including a 4-year-old who was taken by helicopter.
The sheriff’s office said Mendoza, 41, of Lincoln was alone in her car. She was arrested in Waverly after the accident on suspicion of fleeing the scene and is set for bench trial in December.
Reach Lori Pilger at 473-7237 or lpilger@journalstar.com.
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