Man Who Hit, Killed Bonney Lake Pedestrian Charged with Vehicular Homicide, Meth Possession

Charges of vehicular homicide and possession of methamphetamine have been filed against 51-year-old James Gordon Southard Jr., who hit and killed 47-year-old Gary Slick, a Bonney Lake resident walking near Safeway along 214th Ave. E. around 3:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.

Southard appeared in court Monday and pleaded not guilty to the charges. He is currently awaiting trial and held on a $1.5 million bail.

According to charging papers filed by the Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office, Southard appeared intoxicated when arrested and had several pill bottles in his vehicle, filled with methamphetamine and over 100 prescription painkillers and anti-anxiety pills.

This is not Southard's first vehicular homicide charge -- he pleaded guilty to the same crime in 2000 and was sentenced to 10 years in prison for killing Bonney Lake resident Shawn Fairbanks, injuring two other women and causing four hit-and-run accidents involving 6 cars in one night on River Road.

He was also convicted of two other DUIs - one in 1983, the other in 1989 according to the Seattle Times. Southard was also cited for driving with a suspended license in Sumner, back in 1993.

In 2010, Southard pleaded guilty to failing to register as a convicted sex offender in Puyallup. He was found delinquent again this March.

In June 2012, he was issued a non-restricted license by the Washington State Department of Licensing.

After Southard hit Slick with his pickup truck on Saturday, he didn’t stop to help him at the accident site, northbound on the 10100 block of 214th Avenue East near . A witness told police he was allegedly driving behind Southard on SR 410 and observed him swerving all over the roadway before he hit the victim. According to BLPD officer Todd Green, Slick was launched onto the hood of the truck and carried a few hundred feet by the impact before he fell to the ground. While waiting for paramedics, a witness performed CPR. Slick later died at the hospital.

While paramedics worked to save Slick's life, a witness pointed out Southard’s maroon pickup truck, parked across the street at a convenience store. Southard was arrested while walking back to his car from the store after allegedly purchasing a sports drink.

According to police reports, Southard appeared “nervous and confused” when approached by investigators. When he was placed in handcuffs, the officer noted he appeared very lethargic and was walking slowly, with short-spaced steps. He allegedly told the officer, “this isn’t my fault, I did everything I could” and “he walked out into the road.” The officer noted his speech was slow and at times incoherent.

The officer believed Southard to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the crash and he was transported to the hospital for a blood test. The results of that test have not yet been released.

While being transported to Pierce County Jail for booking he stated several times, "my life is over."