State v. Hardman

Defendant was charged with manslaughter in the first degree, ORS 163.118, arising out of an alcohol-related vehicle accident. Before trial, defendant moved to exclude evidence of his involvement in a previous alcohol-related accident involving a motor vehicle. The trial court granted the motion, and the state appeals. We reverse and remand.

The relevant facts are undisputed. In April 2001, police responded to a car accident in the middle of the night. At the scene, they found defendant’s company pickup truck, on fire and lying on its side, after it apparently had collided with a tree.…