A 57-year-old driver who prosecutors say was high on methamphetamine when she struck and killed a pedestrian in Gresham was sentenced Thursday to 11 days in jail.

Janice Kay Taylor had faced a mandatory six years in prison if convicted of second-degree manslaughter, which is the crime prosecutors originally pursued against Taylor for the death of Michael John Simi, 56.

But upon further investigation, prosecutors dropped the manslaughter charge and instead pursued only a single misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence of intoxicants.

Deputy District Attorney Tara Gardner said the charge was changed because video surveillance showed the victim was wearing dark clothes and running across Northeast 181st Avenue at Wasco Street at 9:49 p.m. on Sept. 30, 2016. Gardner said Simi might have been running late to his job at a gas station, and he wasn't in a marked crosswalk.

"Even a sober person wouldn't have been able to stop or avoid hitting Mr. Simi when he crossed into a lane of travel that Ms. Taylor was in," said Gardner, describing the results of her office's investigation.

Video surveillance of Taylor also shows she wasn't speeding or exhibiting signs of poor driving, Gardner said.

But authorites say that Taylor did have meth in her system, and officers who responded to the scene observed that she appeared to be impaired by it. If the case had gone to trial, Taylor's defense would have been that although she had used meth, it was no longer impairing her response time or motor skills.

If convicted of second-degree manslaughter, Taylor would have been sentenced to at least 61/4 years in prison.

Taylor had no prior criminal history.

Driver Janice Taylor uses meth, kills pedestrian 4 Gallery: Driver Janice Taylor uses meth, kills pedestrian

After her arrest, Taylor told authorities that she uses meth once a month and alcohol once a week. She said she has bipolar disorder, depression and panic attacks but isn't taking any medication to address those problems, according to court papers. She said she lives in Southeast Portland, is unemployed and receives food stamps, according to court papers.

Defense attorney Downing Bethune said Taylor has already spent 11 days in jail. Bethune said the experience of striking Simi with her car has deeply shaken her.

"She's looking forward to putting this very sad chapter behind her," Bethune said. "Although she didn't cause the accident, this was a very traumatic event for her. And it has been a lot for her to deal with."

Taylor pleaded no contest to DUII in Multnomah County Circuit Court. As part of her plea deal, Judge Eric Bergstrom sentenced her to two years of probation, a substance-abuse evaluation, any necessary substance-abuse treatment, a high-risk driving class, to attend a presentation by victims of intoxicated drivers, and a one-year license suspension.

Gardner, the prosecutor, said Simi's family is aware of the sentence. His family didn't attend Taylor's sentencing hearing.

-- Aimee Green