Wrong way DUI driver who struck Douglas deputy sentenced to eight years in prison
Submitted by Kelsey Penrose on Fri, 10/18/2024 - 1:02pm
On October 15, 2024, District Judge Tod Young sentenced Defendant James Arthur Coolbaugh to 96 months in the custody of the Nevada Department of Corrections with a minimum parole eligibility of 30 months, as well as a fine of $2,000, for Driving Under the Influence of an Intoxicating Liquor Causing Substantial Bodily Harm.
On October 20, 2023, at approximately 11:07 p.m., Coolbaugh drove a pickup truck northbound on U.S. Highway 395 through the Carson Valley, using the southbound lanes of travel. Law enforcement officers, including Douglas County Sheriff’s Deputies and Troopers with the Nevada Highway Patrol (now Nevada State Police), responded to multiple 911 calls of a wrong-way driver.
Coolbaugh refused to stop his vehicle for law enforcement vehicles with their lights and sirens activated, continuing to drive the wrong way on U.S. Highway 395. Attempting to stop Coolbaugh, Trooper Ross Miller of the Highway Patrol drove southbound toward Coolbaugh, and Trooper Miller used his lights and siren to move southbound traffic out of the way.
Coolbaugh failed to stop and, while continuing to drive at a high rate of speed, drove his pickup truck into Trooper Miller’s patrol vehicle in a nearly head-on situation.
Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for samples of Coolbaugh’s blood, and, almost three hours after the collision, Coolbaugh’s blood alcohol concentration was 0.176 percent.
As a result of injuries received from the collision, Trooper Miller was flown by Care Flight helicopter to Renown Medical Center.
As part of sentencing, Trooper Miller and members of Trooper Miller’s family informed the district court of the significant, on-going, and life-altering health issues suffered by Trooper Miller as a result of Coolbaugh’s criminal conduct, including the fact that, due to Trooper Miller’s injuries, Trooper Miller has been unable to return to the work he loves as a Trooper with the Highway Patrol.
Family members expressed the sentiment that, although they were angry with Coolbaugh for his actions, they did not hate him, and they were trying to forgive him.
At sentencing, the defendant expressed remorse for his actions, and provided proof of efforts at rehabilitation, including attending counseling related to alcohol abuse.
The defendant also suggested he is a first-responder, pointing to his career as a wildland firefighter. Through defense counsel, he requested a sentence of no longer than 60 months in prison.
The State provided video evidence of Coolbaugh’s driving, his failure to stop for law enforcement, and of his collision with Trooper Miller, including video from Trooper Miller’s body-worn camera.
The State argued that Coolbaugh’s conduct did not justify a minimum sentence, given the dangerousness of Coolbaugh’s conduct, which could not be overstated, as well as the impact of his crime on Trooper Miller and Trooper Miller’s family.
In response to a suggestion by defense counsel that Coolbaugh was lucky he did not kill someone, the State indicated that, while there may have been an element of luck, it was Trooper Miller’s intervention and willingness to put himself in harm’s way that ensured that no one died.
Further, the State argued that, when Coolbaugh is done with this case, Coolbaugh would be able to return to the job he loves, but, due to Trooper Miller’s injuries, Trooper Miller may never have that ability.
The Douglas County District Attorney’s Office commends the service of their law enforcement partners, especially that of Trooper Miller, in their efforts to protect the public and to bring Coolbaugh to justice.
