Sean Bunting, 20, was sentenced in August to 46 months in prison in the April drowning of his friend, Brandon Hart, 21.
Bunting pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal negligent homicide and driving under the influence of intoxicants. He was sentenced to 36 months in prison for the negligent homicide and 10 months for the drunken driving.
Bunting was ordered to pay $10,000 to Linda Hart of Griffith, Ill., and fined $1,000. Total fees, fines and restitution were $11,939.
Bunting’s license was suspended for a year for the drunken driving charge and eight years for the negligent homicide.
He will be under post-prison supervision for 24 months.
Bunting was the driver of a 1997 Chevrolet Malibu that careened off the guard rail on top of Foster Dam, went airborne and smashed into the water near the spillway.
Witnesses said Bunting freed himself from the vehicle and attempted to re-enter the water to search for his passenger, Hart.
Linn County Sheriff’s Office dive team members, assisted by Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District and Sweet Home Police Department crews, combed the spillway area for the vehicle and Hart that Saturday evening, Sunday and Monday. Divers found the vehicle in 45 feet of water about 45 minutes after entering the water.
Divers found Hart’s body Monday morning near the intake of the dam’s generator.
Bunting was transported to Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital where he was treated for minor injuries. He was later taken to Linn County Jail and cited and released for driving under the influence of intoxicants and minor in possession of intoxicants.
He was indicted for negligent homicide on June 16, arrested and lodged at Linn County Jail.
Bill Ciullo was an eyewitness to the crash.
He was fishing on the north bank of the South Santiam River below the dam. He reported hearing tires skidding, and when he looked up, he saw Bunting’s care flying through the air.
Don Gruwell and Joe Hansen were fishing on the north end of Foster Dam Road and saw the car jump the guard rail and fly about 70 feet to the rocks below. They said the car bounced forward over the concrete wall around the spillway.
Gruwell called 911, and Hansen ran to the scene of the accident. He found Bunting tearing off his shirt and joined another man in helping pull Bunting onto shore.