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Road rage crash gets man jail, probation

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BY LORI PILGER / Lincoln Journal Star

Friday, Oct 10, 2008 - 05:08:21 pm CDT

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.

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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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throw the book wrote on October 10, 2008 1:28 pm:
" They both deserve their fates. While the facts aren't exactly public in this article. Both individuals made extremely poor decisions in this incident. They didn't just put themselves in danger, but many others. Idiocy may not be a crime, but the results of it can be and should be punished accordingly. "
indeed wrote on October 10, 2008 3:05 pm:
" Who cares if jail time gives his family "financial hardship"? He shouldn't have been acting like an idiot and hurting people in the process. "
Brock Landers wrote on October 10, 2008 4:34 pm:
" I sure hope that one year revokation of his license begins AFTER his time in jail! If not, then this part of the sentence is meaningless as he won't be driving while in jail...

Road rage kills... lucky for the innocents in this situation that nobody was killed! "
notsolucky wrote on October 10, 2008 8:19 pm:
" These people need to count their bleassings that no one was killed. Two years ago my cousin and another innocent man were killed when a road rage driver caused an accident. He had a history of road rage. In his case he was convicted of 2 counts of first degree murder. He will be in jail for the rest of his life. Hopefully this will be a wake up call for the people involved and they will get the help they need before another innocent person is killed. They need counseling in addition to the jail time. "
Steve wrote on October 11, 2008 6:44 am:
" He should lose his license for life,then jailed for 5 years if caught driving again, just read a man was given more jail time for DUI,s, it was his 5th but he didn't injure anyone but himself. "

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