Under a plea agreement, James Schrader, 28, Carthage, pleaded guilty to one count of DWI involving a death and two counts of DWI involving serious physical injury, with the Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney's office capping the sentence at 15 years.
Judge Gayle Crane ordered a sentencing assessment.
Though the three charges were the ones filed by the prosecuting attorney, the Joplin Police Department, in its probable cause statement, had recommended an involuntary manslaughter charge.
The probable cause statement indicated Schrader's blood alcohol content was 0.177, more than twice the legal limit.
From the probable cause statement:
On September 16, 2017, Officer K. Jones responded to an injury crash in the west of the intersection of Lone Elm Road and Murphy Boulevard, Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri 64801.
Officer B. Davis was with the driver identified as James Schrader of a white 2011 GMC Sierra that was involved in the crash.
It was determined that Schrader was westbound on Murphy Boulevard and crossed over the center line causing a head-on crash with another vehicle operated by Genesis Shank.
Officer K. Jones administered standardized field sobriety tests on a well-lit, flat surface, free and clear of debris.
Due to Officer K. Jones' observations, she placed Schrader under arrest for driving while intoxicated.
Schrader gave a breath sample that registered at 0.177.
On September 16, 2017, Officer K. Jones responded to an injury crash in the west of the intersection of Lone Elm Road and Murphy Boulevard, Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri 64801.
Officer B. Davis was with the driver identified as James Schrader of a white 2011 GMC Sierra that was involved in the crash.
It was determined that Schrader was westbound on Murphy Boulevard and crossed over the center line causing a head-on crash with another vehicle operated by Genesis Shank.
Officer K. Jones administered standardized field sobriety tests on a well-lit, flat surface, free and clear of debris.
Due to Officer K. Jones' observations, she placed Schrader under arrest for driving while intoxicated.
Schrader gave a breath sample that registered at 0.177.
There were four people in the vehicle who were involved in the crash. All four people were injured and transported by medical personnel. One subject was unable to walk away from the scene and suffered severe whiplash. The second and third subject both had multiple leg fractures, including broken femurs. They both will require surgery.
The fourth subject, Nichole Sawyer, sustained a traumatic brain bleed that the doctor stated would be unrecoverable. Sawyer died as a result of the sustained injuries at 10:39 a.m. on September 17, 2017. The other victims involved are Genesis Shank, Chrisyan Coy and Blake Everitt.
Sawyer was the single mother of a seven-year-old daughter.
Sawyer's obituary described her as a "creating, giving and a free spirit," and detailed her last action.
True to her character, Nichole’s final act was to give of herself, even in her death. Her spirit is living on as she was an organ donor.
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