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Driver in fatal crash to change plea

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN 6) — Court records show that Joshua Eric Lindsay, 35, is scheduled to change his plea Monday afternoon.

Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney Jenna Plank wrote in court documents that Lindsay was both high on methamphetamines and intoxicated with a blood alcohol content level of .08 when he crashed and critically injured his passenger. The crash happened Oct. 5, 2014.

The victim was identified as Jeannette Fields. Before the crash, police said Lindsay’s original vehicle broke down in Northeast Portland. Police said he walked into a nearby neighborhood where he broke into the home of an 83-year-old man in the 10000 Block of Northeast Beech. Inside the home, Lindsay stole a pair of keys for a 2014 Toyota Camry, police said.

Lindsay was driving the stolen vehicle and Fields was riding in the passenger seat, Plank wrote. After driving a short distance, Lindsay rear-ended a vehicle that was stopped at a red light, court documents state. Both the victims in that vehicle went to the hospital, court documents state.

Their vehicle was “totaled,” Plank wrote. The impact between the stolen vehicle and the vehicle stopped at the red light was so strong that it caused damage to a third vehicle, court documents state.

Fields had injuries of internal bleeding, collapsed lungs and a broken neck, court documents state. Despite her injuries and the damage to the vehicle, Lindsay continued to drive the stolen vehicle for several blocks, Plank wrote. The vehicle finally came to a stop at Northeast 83rd and Northeast Going Street.

A neighbor ran over to the car once Lindsay pulled over. He reported that she was still alive but had very bad injuries, court documents state. Lindsay was seen slapping Fields in the face while telling her they needed to go, court documents state. He then ran from the scene when he learned police were responding. He was eventually found at Northeast 72nd and Northeast Alberta, police said.

Doctors said Fields suffered cardiac arrest because of the injuries. She was revived, but had lost all brain function and was taken off life-support on Oct. 8, 2014, according to police and court documents.

Records show Lindsay has 19 felony convictions, eight misdemeanor convictions.

He is scheduled to change his plea Monday afternoon before Judge Eric J. Bergstrom.