More than two years ago, a couple visiting from California attended a family wedding in Sweet Home, and were killed later that day in a car crash. A Brownsville man was recently sentenced in relation to that incident.
Robert Paul Prettyman, 36, was sentenced to eight years in prison on Nov. 15 after he pleaded no contest to the manslaughter of Carl Curtis, 79, and Yvonne Levy, 73, in a vehicular crash on Highway 20 on May 14, 2022.
According to the Curtis family, the couple were visiting Sweet Home from California for the wedding of Levy’s granddaughter when the crash occurred.
Early on, investigators suspected the crash was a result of impairment, and court records indicate several whippet-related items were entered as evidence as the court prepared for a jury trial.
Since, ultimately, there was no jury trial, details surrounding the investigation were not available to The New Era. Deputy District Attorney Alex Olenick told The New Era in an email that “the facts of the case, which defendant still disputes, are that defendant was ingesting nitrous oxide while driving on Highway 20. He ultimately caused a head-on collision that killed two people and seriously injured his own passenger, who was his then-three-year-old daughter. She eventually made a full recovery.”
Carl Curtis’ son, John Curtis, told The New Era that he understands 78 whippets and a whipped cream canister were found in Prettyman’s car and his toxicology tests indicated the presence of nitrous oxide.
As they initially investigated the scene, police determined Prettyman, driving a red Mazda3, was heading eastbound when he swerved across all lanes of traffic onto the westbound shoulder, then back into the eastbound lanes where he collided with a silver Nissan Versa driven by Curtis. Police said he was attempting to avoid the crash. The Curtis family believe Prettyman hit Curtis’ car head-on, and a photo taken by New Era staff show both cars have front end damage.
“The district attorney deduced that he most likely had to black out to veer so far a distance without correcting,” John said.
The California couple were pronounced deceased at the scene, while Prettyman was transported to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis with non-life-threatening injuries. His 4-year-old passenger suffered critical injuries and was transported to Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital, then to a Portland-area hospital by LifeFlight.
Prettyman was sentenced to 30 days jail, 100 months with the Oregon Department of Corrections, and 36 months post-prison supervision after pleading no contest to two counts of second degree manslaughter and one count of third degree assault. In a separate case, but related to this one, he pleaded no contest to DUII (inhalants) and was sentenced to lifelong revocation of a driver’s license and 60 days in County Jail.
“The families of Carl and Yvonne were disappointed in the sentence he received, as well as the length of time that Mr. Prettyman has been a free man before a resolution was decided,” John said in an email. “During the sentencing proceedings, we were stunned to discover that Mr. Prettyman had a previous DUI conviction, which included injuries to another individual.”
John was referring to a 2011 case in Clackamas County, of which Prettyman had pleaded guilty to DUII and fourth degree assault.
“Both families of Carl Curtis and Yvonne Levy were allowed to make victim statements during the sentencing,” John said. “These statements were powerful and moving, expressing anger at the needless loss of two vibrant and healthy loved ones, and the lasting impacts their tragic deaths have had on each and every one of them.
“Carl and Yvonne were longtime partners who, up until their deaths, were running marathons and enjoying their golden years. Together they explored the world, taking part in running events that included the Great Wall of China. Not long ago, Yvonne summited Mount Kilimanjaro.
“Yvonne’s granddaughter whose wedding they attended the day they were killed, will forever associate what should have been the happiest day of her life, with an unspeakable tragedy. Carl has missed the wedding of his son, John Curtis, and the birth of two grandchildren.”
John further went on to say that Prettyman made no statements or showed no signs of remorse.
“The families would like to thank the local law enforcement, the witnesses that came forward to help, and the Linn County District Attorney and Victim Services Program Coordinator,” John said. “We will be forever grateful for the contributions and compassion that was displayed from each of these individuals.”