A 20-year-old Lewis & Clark College student who fatally struck a pedestrian with his car in Southeast Portland and then kept driving was sentenced Monday to 366 days in prison.

After police tracked down Frederick James Ryerson Jr. and his damaged Honda Civic more than 13 hours after the crash, Ryerson claimed someone had smashed a hole in the windshield of his parked car while he was drinking at a friend's house the night before, according to police. Ryerson then changed his story to say someone threw a rock through his windshield while he was driving, police say.

Ryerson ultimately admitted to striking pedestrian Christopher Brian Chandler, 34, near Southeast 29th Avenue and Stark Street but said that at the time he hadn't realized he'd struck a person. Chandler died at Oregon Health & Science University a short while after he was hit at 2 a.m. on Sept. 27, 2015.

Ryerson originally hs been accused of second-degree manslaughter -- a crime that would have brought a mandatory six years and three months in prison upon conviction. But the charge would have required the prosecution to prove that Ryerson had acted "recklessly."

Deputy District Attorney Steve O'Hagan said Monday that would have been difficult given it was nighttime and Chandler was wearing all black and standing in one of the travel lanes. O'Hagan said Chandler had been drinking and may have suddenly turned to change directions as if he were going to cross the street. That's when Ryerson apparently struck him.

Chandler's blood alcohol level was .06 percent, which is below the legal limit for driving of .08 percent. Chandler was in the process of trying to find a ride home, O'Hagan said.

Ryerson's blood alcohol level at the time is unknown because he fled the scene and police didn't find him until the next afternoon.

"There were some challenges in the case that led the state ... to make this agreement," O'Hagan said. "As the state investigated this case, it became apparent that it was going to be harder and harder to prove the reckless element."

Before he was hit, Chandler had been standing outside the Goodfoot Pub, talking to some friends who were in a band and packing up their equipment.

The case had been headed for trial in December. Instead, Ryerson pleaded no contest to felony hit-and-run driving and misdemeanor attempted driving while under the influence of intoxicants.

His driver's license will be suspended for at least five years.

Ryerson, who has turned 21 since the crash, cried as he told Chandler's mother that he was sorry.

"I feel terrible about the loss of your son," Ryerson said. "I think about it every day. I know I will for the rest of my life. ... I really truly am sorry."

Ryerson had no previous criminal history. He was caught after a friend of Chandler's was walking near Southeast 20th Avenue and Oak Street and saw Ryerson's Civic parked on the street. The friend noticed damage to the car -- including a blanket that was covering the hole in the windshield. The friend called police.

The car was parked next to Ryerson's house, which was a half-mile from the crash scene.

According to Chandler's obituary, he was born in Honolulu and graduated from Indiana University. At the time of his death, he was living in the Portland area and working as a radiology technician at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center. He also played guitar and was in a band.

More than a dozen of Chandler's friends attended the plea and sentencing hearing.

Speaking by phone, Chandler's aunt said her nephew was a sweet, intelligent and often at the head of his class.

"Even in death, he was a giver," said Jean Gartner, the aunt. Although his organs couldn't be used, he donated his eyes, skin and bones, Gartner said.

She said she hoped Ryerson would learn from what happened.

"We are grateful that Mr. Ryerson is taking some responsibility," she said.

-- Aimee Green

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