A Durango man who rolled his vehicle while drunken driving on Farmington Hill, causing serious bodily injury to a passenger, has been sentenced to 60 days in jail with work release.

Donald Villers, 64, pleaded guilty to drunken driving and vehicular assault, a felony. The felony will be dismissed from his record if he successfully completes terms of his probation.

Villers was traveling north near the top of Farmington Hill when he swerved into the southbound lane, overcorrected, and drove up the side of a steep embankment, causing the vehicle to roll one full time, according to the Colorado State Patrol.

He was suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and marijuana, according to CSP.

The crash occurred about 9 p.m. Feb. 11, 2022.

Villers suffered serious injuries and was taken to Mercy Hospital. His passenger, Henry L. Williams, 63, of Durango, also suffered serious bodily injury. He was flown to St. Mary’s Medical Center in Grand Junction, according to CSP.

Neither passenger wore seat belts, according to CSP.

In addition to serving 60 days in jail, Villers will be on probation for two years and must pay nearly $3,000 in fines and court costs.

Assistant District Attorney Sean Murray said the plea agreement balanced community protection and accountability with rehabilitation.

“Mr. Villers took responsibility for his misconduct and received a deferred judgment and conviction for felony vehicular assault,” Murray said in an email to The Durango Herald. “He also received a judgment of conviction for driving under the influence.

“National social science has shown that deferred judgments are highly effective at enhancing compliance with probation and to reducing the risk of recidivism for probationers.”

shane@durangoherald.com