An Auburn woman was sentenced to a little over 11 years in prison following an Enumclaw incident where the defendant crashed while driving at 118 mph, killing her child.
On Aug. 8, Savannah Lynn Hopper, 38, of Auburn, was sentenced to 134 months in prison for vehicular homicide — 11 years and two months — following a joint sentencing recommendation from the defense and prosecution in a plea agreement. This incident stems from an April 27 crash in the 23300 block of Southeast 416th St., near Enumclaw Evergreen Memorial Park, where Savannah Hopper had a 0.15 blood alcohol level, her vehicle exited the road driving 118 mph, the vehicle cartwheeled for about 60 feet, and ultimately, her 12-year-old child, Woodson Hopper, died at the scene.
Savannah Hopper also received a total of 24 months in jail for violation of ignition interlock and domestic violence reckless endangerment, but the court suspended those sentences for 24 months contingent on her following the guidelines of her probation.
Savannah Hopper’s standard sentencing range, including a 48-month enhancement because she has two prior driving under the influence convictions, was between 134 months and 162 months.
Judge LeRoy McCullough, who oversaw the sentencing hearing, said he was not bound to the 134-month sentencing recommendation, but considering the background of the case, he found it was reasonable. McCullough said that Savannah Hopper’s incarceration will be a loss to her family, but the sentencing guidelines were created to provide a just punishment, protect the community and offer the defendant an opportunity for self-improvement. McCullough noted that Savannah Hopper had previous convictions, but they were from over 14 years ago.
“This was a very horrible crash. According to the information, this was a 700-foot of crash damage that resulted in the loss of a life. We understand that the reconstruction suggests that the speed was up to 118 mph,” McCullough said. “We also understand that there was a blood alcohol level which was clearly above standard. So when we look at all of this, this is very serious.”
Giving a statement to the court were multiple of Savannah Hopper’s children and her husband, who each shared how they will be affected by not having their mother at home. Savannah Hopper’s husband, Rodney Hopper, said their kids need their mom back, and all of their family is going to pay the price for her incarceration.
“Our family, it’s falling apart without her. She’s the glue. I’m coming apart at the seams. I’m not sleeping, I’m not eating,” Rodney Hopper said. “Nothing in my life was normal. Everything changed that night. But taking my wife, my best friend, my only friend in the world, I don’t see where that’s going to help anything or help our family.”
King County Sheriff’s Office detective Jeanne Walford, who responded to the scene of the crash, stated that, as a mother who has a child about the same age as Woodson Hopper, she felt that Savannah Hopper failed to protect her child the night of the crash.
“My perspective in 13 years of doing crash reconstruction, this was the longest scene we ever measured before. Almost 700 feet of crash damage, before the car came to rest,” Walford said. “That just equated to an incredible amount of energy and speed. To me, this was more than just an accident this was just an incredible reckless behavior that could have cost more people in society their lives.”
Savannah Hopper addressed the court, stating that none of what has happened still feels real, and she keeps waiting to wake up from a nightmare. Hopper said that she was supposed to protect her child, but her child died.
“This is a loss my heart won’t ever recover from. Every aspect of this case is completely and utterly tragic. None of this was supposed to happen, yet here we are,” Hopper said. “The guilt and pain I experience is beyond something I can perceive. The remorse I feel for the stress, pain, hurt, and disappointment this has caused my loved ones, I am unable to comprehend, to put in words.”
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