Suspect in wreck was rushing dog to vet, papers say

A man was arrested on suspicion of felony hit and run and vehicular assault after his vehicle crashed into a car Tuesday night on Yelm Highway – sending a 4-year-old boy and a 10-year-old boy to the hospital – because he was racing to a veterinarian’s office after his dog was struck in front of his home, court papers state.

Robert Earl Ottoboni, 34, who lives on Boulevard Road in Olympia, “put the welfare of his dog over the welfare of the community,” Thurston County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Joseph Wheeler said in court Wednesday.

There is evidence that Ottoboni was under the influence of alcohol when he struck the car while attempting to pass traffic on Yelm Highway, Wheeler said. Witnesses said that shortly before the crash, Ottoboni’s Subaru wagon was driving at speeds between 70 and 100 mph, Wheeler said in court.

The crash occurred in the 4000 block of Yelm Highway about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, court papers state.

The 4-year-old needs major reconstructive facial surgery as a result of the injuries he suffered in the wreck, which left his father’s car upside-down after it hit a metal fence, Wheeler said.

Thurston County Superior Court Judge Gary Tabor ordered Ottoboni held on suspicion of felony hit and run and vehicular assault with bail set at $40,000.

Ottoboni was remorseful after learning of the child’s injuries when a Washington State Patrol trooper took him into custody at the Mountain View Veterinarian Clinic, Ottoboni’s attorney said Wednesday.

According to court papers: “The defendant stated that his dog had been struck in front of his home and admitted to driving very fast because his dog was hurt. He admitted to driving down the center turn lane, and passing vehicles. … He said he only cared about getting his injured dog to the clinic for care, so he ran from the scene to the clinic.”

Ottoboni then asked if everyone in the other vehicle was OK, “and when advised of the injuries to the child, he began to sob,” court papers state.

Ottoboni said the crash occurred when a vehicle pulled in front of him and he “began to swerve and collided with another vehicle,” court papers state.

Ottoboni had a bandage wrapped around his head during his court appearance Wednesday.

A trooper smelled alcohol at the veterinary clinic, court papers state. Ottoboni failed field sobriety tests after the crash, Wheeler said in court. Ottoboni told the trooper he had drunk “three tall Olympia beers while playing golf that day,” court papers state.

State Patrol Sgt. Freddy Williams said that a sample was taken to determine Ottoboni’s blood-alcohol level, but the results will not be available for at least 30 days.

After the crash, the 10-year-old was taken to Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia. The 4-year-old was flown by helicopter to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. A official at Harborview said Wednesday that the boy is in serious condition.

A person at the Mountain View Veterinarian Clinic declined to answer questions. Court papers indicate that there were two dogs in Ottoboni’s vehicle.

Jeremy Pawloski: 360-754-5425

jpawloski@theolympian.com