Drilling Firm Admits Part In Fatal Crash -- Owner Of Company Pleads Guilty; Gives $5,000 To Memorial Fund

The owner of an Issaquah drilling company has pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting negligent driving in connection with a Redmond-area accident that killed three people, and will contribute $5,000 to a memorial fund for two of the victims.

T.L. Cannon, owner of B&J Drilling, pleaded guilty on behalf of his company to the reduced charge in King County Superior Court yesterday.

On Aug. 30, 1991, the truck, driven by Verle Roberts, ran a red light at the Woodinville-Redmond Road and Northeast 124th Street and crashed into the 1991 Isuzu of Sue Dolan, 36, and her daughter, Sarah, 12, of Redmond. All three were killed.

Prosecutors were trying to prove Cannon, 55, ignored his driver's warnings that the brakes on a well-drilling truck were faulty. But after rulings were made prohibiting various statements into evidence, prosecutors sought and received his plea on the lesser charge.

The gross misdemeanor calls for a maximum fine of $250, but Cannon agreed to make the $5,000 contribution to the Dolan memorial fund at Washington State University.

Cannon had already paid approximately $750,000 to John Dolan, who sued on behalf of his wife and daughter. Dolan is fire chief of Snohomish County Fire District 1.

His attorney, Barry Mesher, praised Deputy Prosecutor Mike Hogan's efforts.

"John is extremely pleased with the way prosecutor Hogan handled this case," said Mesher. "It certainly is somewhat unusual for a defendant to agree to pay toward a memorial fund."

Cannon witnessed the accident, and his attorney, David Smith, said Cannon still has nightmares about the fiery crash.

Roberts apparently was so concerned about the brakes shortly before the crash that he called Cannon to the area. Cannon told the National Transportation Safety Board that he told the driver he would call a tow truck if necessary.

Cannon said Roberts declined. But in a sworn statement given during a State Patrol investigation, a co-worker said he overheard Roberts request a tow truck, and heard Cannon say it would be too expensive, telling Roberts "we will just take our chances."

A brief time later the truck slammed into the car driven by Sue Dolan.