Jack Dean Whiteaker, the driver who was high on methamphetamine when he veered into oncoming traffic and struck the car of a pregnant woman in 2010, now faces a first-degree manslaughter charge.

Cayla Wilson died in March, nearly eight years after suffering major brain damage that left her bedridden. Her death prompted prosecutors to present the case last week to a Multnomah County Circuit Court jury and secure a new indictment.

Whiteaker already is serving an 11-year prison term for putting Wilson into what doctors said was a near vegetative state. He could serve additional prison time if convicted of manslaughter.

Whiteaker, 61, has a criminal history spanning more than 35 years. If a judge classifies Whiteaker as a "dangerous offender," he could receive up to 30 years in prison upon conviction, but would likely serve less time.

Wilson, who was 19 at the time of the crash, had been on her way to an interview for a job cleaning houses and was five months' pregnant when Whiteaker hit her head-on on a Gresham road. Her baby, JaiKyla, was delivered by emergency C-section five weeks later.

JaiKyla's premature birth caused mild cerebral palsy, but today she's 8 and thriving, court records show. She's being raised by Wilson's parents, Bill and Denise Wilson.

The two cared for their daughter at home for all but her first two years, which she spent in the hospital and a rehabilitation center.

In February, Cayla Wilson developed an infection, suffered seizures and surgeons removed extra fluid that had accumulated in her skull. But she didn't recover and died March 30 at age 27.

No court dates have been set yet for Whiteaker.

-- Aimee Green