Lynnwood Man Pleads Not Guilty in Crash That Killed Washington State Trooper on I-5

A Lynnwood man accused of driving drunk at more than 110 mph before killing a Washington State Patrol trooper pleaded not guilty on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett.

Raul Benitez Santana, 32, faces two counts of vehicular homicide, one alleging reckless driving and one alleging he was under the influence. The charges were filed last week in the death of trooper Chris Gadd, 27. Judge George Appel found probable cause for both counts at the arraignment, which the defendant attended unrestrained and in civilian clothes. About a half-dozen state troopers, other officers, loved ones and members of the media were in the courtroom.

According to the charging documents, Gadd was on routine patrol for impaired drivers around 3 a.m. on March 2, parked on the shoulder of southbound I-5 near the Stimson Road overpass close to Marysville. Benitez Santana was allegedly driving a GMC Yukon Denali without its headlights on. Dashcam footage from a truck traveling 70 mph shows the Yukon passing it, prosecutors wrote. The passenger side of the Yukon then fully entered the shoulder, and Gadd's brake lights came on.

The Yukon struck the rear of Gadd's vehicle, causing what the charges describe as catastrophic damage to both. The Yukon ricocheted across the interstate, while the patrol car spun into a ditch. Gadd died at the scene. Moments later, a southbound Navy van crashed into the GMC, and its driver broke a wrist.

A search warrant for the Yukon's event data recorder showed the vehicle was going 112 mph two seconds before impact. In the five seconds leading up to the crash, the accelerator was "99 percent depressed," according to the warrant's findings. Prosecutors also allege Benitez Santana told investigators at the hospital that he had consumed alcohol and marijuana earlier that day.

Deputy prosecutor Tobin Darrow told the court that driving 112 mph would have been reckless even in the fast lane. "There's no way other drivers can anticipate his movements at those speeds," he said.

Defense attorney Emily Hancock described the crash as a "tragic accident," but not a crime. She said the freeway was clear and the alleged speed was well above the limit, but argued that alone was not enough to show reckless driving. Court records indicate Benitez Santana has prior traffic violations, including three misdemeanors for driving with a suspended license.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement says Benitez Santana is an undocumented Mexican citizen, and the Department of Homeland Security has placed an immigration detainer on him, according to court documents. Defense attorney Tiffany Mecca asked the judge to strike his immigration status from the charging papers, saying publicity about it has prompted racist comments about Latino people and could undermine his right to a fair trial. Appel denied the request, saying he saw no reason the issue would be relevant at trial but that the considerations at this stage differ from those at trial.

Earlier this month, hundreds of law enforcement officers attended Gadd's memorial at Angel of the Winds Arena. Appel set a jury trial for May 17, though it is likely to be postponed. Benitez Santana remains in the Snohomish County Jail with bail set at $1 million.