Latest news with #RaulBenitezSantana
Fox News
05-06-2025
- Fox News
Illegal immigrant convicted in 100 mph DUI crash that killed Washington state trooper
Jurors in Washington state delivered a guilty verdict against an illegal immigrant accused of killing a state trooper last year. Raul Benitez-Santana, 33, was found guilty of vehicular assault and vehicular homicide in connection with the death of Washington State Patrol Trooper Christopher Gadd. Gadd, 27, was killed when his cruiser was hit by a speeding car in March 2024 at more than 100 mph. Benitez-Santana was under the influence at the time of the crash, and admitted to drinking and smoking marijuana before driving, Fox Seattle reported. He was swerving across the road before slamming into the rear end of Gadd's vehicle, which was parked on the shoulder. Gadd was watching for speeding and DUI drivers, when he was struck and killed in a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 5. After his arrest, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued a detainer request with Snohomish County Jail for Benitez-Santana, a Mexican citizen. He was first encountered by immigration agents on Oct. 28, 2013, at the South Correctional Entity in Burien, Washington, after being arrested for failing to appear in court for driving on a suspended license. He was also sentenced to 90 days behind bars, with 87 of the days suspended, in May 2013, after being convicted of possessing less than 40 grams of marijuana. On Oct. 6, 2014, Santana was sentenced to 90 days behind bars for driving on a suspended license, and in May 2019, was arrested again for domestic violence assault. Fox News Digital has reached out to ICE.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
Trial for man accused in Washington State Patrol Trooper's death begins
The Brief The trial for the man accused of hitting and killing a Washington State Trooper is now underway. The state's case hinges on speed and driving under the influence being a factor in the crash, while the defense says the crash was a tragic accident. Proceedings are expected to last several weeks. MARYSVILLE, Wash. - More than a year after Washington State Patrol Trooper Christopher Gadd lost his life in a crash, Raul Benitez-Santana, the man charged in connection with his death, is now on trial. Opening statements in the trial began on Friday, May 23. Investigators say on Mar. 2, 2024, Gadd was on patrol when Benintez-Santana was under the influence and hit the trooper's car at more than 100-miles per hour. What they're saying "At the last second or two you can see Gadd must've stomped on the brake because the brake lights lit up on the patrol vehicle, but it's too late by that time and there is a violent collision," the state said. During opening statements on Friday, they told the jury that the damage was so catastrophic that the car was unrecognizable. "The force of the impact killed Trooper Gadd almost instantly. It caused severe fractures to the back of his skull," the state said. While Trooper Gadd died at the scene, the state said Benitenz-Santana was uninjured, but his lawyers say, he was questioned while hospitalized. "They hover over him 'Raul, Raul, Raul' trying to get him to answer these questions, and he does," the defense said. She added, he admitted to speeding. "You'll see in the video that he slams on his brakes as soon as the trooper's vehicle becomes visible and he swerves to the left but there was just not enough time," Benitez-Santana's attorney said in court. She adds, he was not impaired at the time, and while blood samples were taken that night, "the crime lab made mistakes in the testing." "We are going to ask you to find the defendant guilty of vehicular homicide. There are two ways you can do that: by driving recklessly, or driving under the influence. We're going to ask you to do both in this case," the state said. "When you hear the evidence in this case, the facts, the witnesses, the data and the science, you're going to see the state's case does not hold up. Yes, it was a tragic accident but not a crime," the defense said. What's next The trial is expected to last about three weeks. The Source Information in this story came from original FOX 13 Seattle interviews. Luxury Seattle hotel sues 'nuisance' building next door Firefighters in western WA train for possibility of 'above average' wildfire season Shawn Kemp lawyers claim bias in Tacoma Mall shooting case as trial nears Federal judge blocks Trump's dismantling of the Department of Education 'Where is Teekah?': Mother speaks out after Tacoma, WA cold case Activist marks 2 weeks in tree to protest logging near Port Angeles Driver arrested after deadly crash in Kent, WA To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
