A man with 13 felony convictions, accused of causing the death of a 20-year-old college student, is blaming the police for the tragic incident during a high-speed pursuit.
Donald Wayne Rownan, who was on parole, is alleged to have killed Paola Parbol Arredondo in a car crash on the morning of October 15. The incident occurred as Rownan fled from law enforcement officers in Parkland, Washington.
The 47-year-old, a known criminal from Forks, admitted to evading the police but shifted responsibility for the crash onto the pursuing officers.
According to a state trooper who questioned Rownan, “His demeanor suggested indifference, and he seemed to deny any responsibility for the incident.”
The trooper further reported, “Rownan commented, saying something like, ‘You guys could have not chased me.’ I expressed my surprise at his refusal to accept accountability.”
Rownan was initially being stopped due to three outstanding arrest warrants. He confessed to fleeing because he was unwilling to return to jail, as reported by Komo News.
Seconds after fleeing, Rownan ran a red light in his Chrysler 300 and t-boned Arredondo’s silver Toyota Corolla.
Arredondo, who was on her way to class at Pacific Lutheran University, was killed on impact. Rownan attempted to flee the scene on foot after the collision.
He was caught and is now facing eight charges, including murder in the second degree, vehicular homicide, failure to remain at an accident resulting in death, and vehicular assault DUI.
Paola Parbol Arredondo, 20, was killed in a car accident on her way to class at around 9.30am on October 15
Donald Wayne Rownan, 47, who was on parole, allegedly killed Arredondo after fleeing from a traffic stop
The remaining charges include failure to stay at an injury accident, attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle, escape from community custody, and reckless driving.
Two others were in the car with the tattooed man and were taken to the hospital for their injuries.
Rownan is being held on $750,000 bond, according to King 5.
The repeat offender also confessed to going about 75 to 80 miles per hour during the time of the casualty.
A drug recognition expert found that Ronan was likely under the influence of one or multiple substances, according to the outlet.
Investigators also discovered drug paraphernalia within the Chrysler.
Before the crash, the Washington man had been arrested 36 times.
When Arredondo’s boyfriend, Gabriel, was asked by King 5 what he felt when he saw Rownan in Pierce County Superior Court, he said: ‘Y’all don’t want to hear what I have to say about him.’
Rownan, seen in court, is being held on $750,000 bond
The 47-year-old career criminal, from Forks, admitted to running from the authorities, but said the officers who were after him were the ones to blame
Arredondo was studying criminal justice and social services and worked part-time at a day care
He then went on to describe the young woman: ‘She was very smart, ambitious, whatever she wanted, she would go and get it for herself.
‘She would always work hard – she was a hard worker.’
Arredondo was studying criminal justice and social services and worked part-time at a day care, according to her boyfriend’s mother.
Tearfully, she added: ‘Such a young life taken away from us. She goes to church every day.’
‘It’s so sad because her parents aren’t even here – they live three hours away.’
A GoFundMe was launched to help with the funeral costs, which has raised nearly $11,500.
