Seattle man faces vehicular homicide charge in death of Silverdale woman

SEATTLE — Ngere Omari, 30, of Seattle was formally charged in King County Superior Court Wednesday with vehicular homicide and vehicular assault in the death of 20-year-old Heather Meadows, who he hit head-on in the early morning hours of March 13 on I-5 in South King County.

Omari, who was reportedly driving drunk at the time of the accident, pleaded not guilty at the arraignment.

Meadows, a 2003 Central Kitsap High School grad, was traveling southbound on I-5 on her way home to Silverdale. Omari traveled the wrong direction up an exit ramp and drove about one mile the wrong way on the freeway. He crossed five lanes of traffic, striking Meadows’ 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier head-on. She died at the scene. Her 20-year-old passenger from Vaughn was transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with lacerations to his spleen, liver and kidneys as well as a broken jaw. He was released on March 16.

Omari was unresponsive at the scene and could not be questioned right away, but officers smelled an odor of alcohol coming from him, according to court documents. He was transported to Harborview Medical Center with internal injuries. A legal blood draw was done within two hours of the accident. The Washington State Toxicology Lab found Omari’s blood alcohol content was .18, more than twice the legal limit.

This is not the first time Omari was caught drinking and driving. According to court documents, Omari was convicted of a DUI on February 8, 2005. At the time of his collision with Meadows, he had a suspended license and was on active probation with Seattle Municipal Court. He also faces a charge of second-degree driving while license is suspended/revoked.

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