A vehicular homicide charge has been filed against Sarah Lee Clasen, a 35-year-old officer with the Washington State Patrol, following a fatal collision with a motorcyclist. The incident took place on State Route 240 in Richland, a city located about 200 miles southeast of Seattle. The collision occurred around 7:40 p.m. on a recent Saturday evening when Clasen was making a left turn at an intersection and struck 20-year-old motorcyclist, Jhoser Sanchez.
Damon Jansen, the commander of investigations for the Richland Police Department, reported that the collision happened when Sanchez’s motorcycle hit the front right corner of Clasen’s vehicle. State troopers were the first to arrive at the scene and attempted to save Sanchez’s life before he was transported to Kadlec Regional Medical Center. Unfortunately, Sanchez was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
The investigation was initially conducted by state troopers. However, upon discovering that Clasen was an off-duty member of their agency, the case was handed over to the Richland police. During the initial investigation, officers noted several inconsistencies in Clasen’s account of the incident. They also observed her slurred speech and glassy eyes.
Clasen stated that she was on her way home after picking up a pizza when she began to turn and collided with Sanchez. However, Officer Steve Heid, who wrote the affidavit, noted that the motorcycle was almost completely under the front of her vehicle as it rested on the side of the roadway. Heid also pointed out that Clasen had a clear view of oncoming traffic and believes that an attentive driver should have been able to see the motorcyclist before causing the collision.
Heid suspected alcohol involvement and asked Clasen to take a breathalyzer test, which she declined. Clasen was subsequently arrested at the scene and booked into the Benton County Jail on a 72-hour hold for vehicular homicide. Investigators have since obtained a court-authorized search warrant for a blood sample.
After her release from jail, a Benton County judge ordered Clasen not to drive any vehicles unless an ignition interlock device was installed. She was also ordered to obtain an alcohol monitoring device within 48 hours of her release. The Benton County Prosecutor’s Office has announced its intention to request a special prosecutor to oversee the case to ensure impartiality.
Clasen’s defense attorney, Scott Johnson, argued that the affidavit only mentioned Heid smelling alcohol but did not specify it was on Clasen’s breath. Johnson also highlighted that his client attempted to perform CPR on Sanchez immediately after the collision. Clasen, who was hired by the Washington State Patrol in 2012 and worked as a public information officer, has been placed on administrative leave following the incident.