Sarah Clasen, a Washington State Patrol officer, is charged with vehicular homicide after a fatal DUI collision.
Reports say Sarah struck and killed a motorcyclist while allegedly driving under the influence. The crash occurred in her personal car near a residential area on Saturday night, March 1. Police responded to a call about the incident.
At the scene, officers found Jhoser Sanchez, age 20, severely injured in the collision. Medics rushed Jhoser to a local hospital where doctors pronounced him dead. This information comes from the Tri-City Herald.
The Richland Police Department booked Sarah into jail for vehicular homicide. State Patrol Chief John Batiste commented that Sarah was off-duty during the crash and driving her own vehicle.
Officer Steve Heid questioned Sarah after the crash and noticed an alcohol smell, according to an affidavit obtained by the Tri-City Herald. Heid wrote that Sarah claimed the motorcyclist sped, but he noted her story did not match the SUV’s damage.
Police asked Sarah to take sobriety tests and a breathalyzer test, but she refused both, allegedly saying she knew “how it works.” Heid asked if she drank wine earlier, but Sarah refused to answer that question.
The crash happened a year after a safety campaign where Sarah urged drivers to pay more attention due to an increase in collisions. She noted distractions like cellphones, radios, and occupants in a car can also cause distractions.