The man accused of causing the crash that killed Washington State Patrol Trooper Christopher Gadd in March pleaded not guilty in court Tuesday afternoon.
The Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Raul Benitez-Santana, 32, Friday with vehicular homicide and vehicular assault. Gadd, 27, was killed in a crash on March 2 while working DUI patrol on I-5 in Marysville. Gadd was sitting in the driver’s seat of his marked WSP cruiser parked in the grass on the right-side shoulder of the freeway when the deadly crash happened. Another driver was also injured in the three-vehicle crash.
The defense called the crash a tragic accident but argued in court whether there was enough evidence a crime occurred, zeroing in on the fact that Trooper Gadd’s lights were off around the time of the crash and the suspect’s blood alcohol level was below the legal limit.
According to court documents, Benitez-Santana was driving 112 mph and hit the brakes less than a second before the crash occurred, slamming into Gadd’s patrol vehicle at 107 mph. Prosecutors say the entire incident was captured on camera from a nearby truck also on the road at the time and witnesses described seeing the suspect driving recklessly.
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Gaad dammit 🦫
How is it legal to drive over 100 mph let alone on shoulder if I can’t legally do that he certainly should Not be driving like that either he should be held accountable just like everyone else that is born here just because you’re here illegally doesn’t means the laws apply differently to him he kill a trooper whether the trooper was at a standstill or it was a innocent standard trying to replace there tire it was a tow truck driver trying to pick up a vehicle he still killed someone
speeding is a crime and most likely a felony at those speeds
deport the illegal…. he is a murderer…
You let these people come into the country illegally. Why would you assume they care about our laws? They never aimed to follow the laws from the very start.
Not guilty? How so, bud?
This is clearly an accident mr Santana should not be held as a murderer, and that thing where wsp sits on side of the road with no lights on is just asking for this type of wreck i think that some policy changes need to be looked at WSP….. Rip trooper gawd i am sad that happened to such a young well to do person but jesus stop this type of predatory policing its dangerous.
Useless import eater
Doesn't matter if Trooper Gadd's ligbts weren't on, Benitez-Sanchez was drunk, speeding and driving on the shoulder. He should get a life sentence without parole not 10 short years that's ridiculous