Wrongful death suit filed against WA trooper accused in deadly DUI crash
Mar 19, 2025, 9:17 AM | Updated: 9:41 am
Screen shot of Trooper Sarah Clasen from police body camera footage (Courtesy Richland Police via 成人X站-7)
(Courtesy Richland Police via 成人X站-7)
RICHLAND, Wash. 鈥� A firm has filed a lawsuit on behalf of a man who was killed in a crash involving an off-duty Washington State Trooper who was allegedly driving under the influence.
On March 1, WSP Trooper Sarah Clasen was driving her personal vehicle on SR 240 in Richland when she is said to have hit a motorcyclist, 20-year-old Jhoser Enmanuel Vega-Sanchez, in the oncoming lane while making a turn.
Vega-Sanchez was pronounced dead at the scene.
Court documents allege Clasen was driving under the influence and that she had 鈥渁n odor of intoxicants coming from her person.鈥� Clasen did not wish to take field sobriety tests or blood test initially. She has yet to be charged.
Benton County prosecutors said Clasen was arrested and held for 72 hours on probable cause for committing a crime and was released from jail without bail on March 3. That same day, Benton County Prosecutor Eric Eisinger recused his office from the case because the trooper worked out of a local office. Since then, the Spokane Prosecuting Attorney鈥檚 Office has taken over the case.
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A lawsuit was filed on behalf of the motorcyclists鈥� family by Tamaki Law, asking for an unknown amount of damages.
Clasen and her husband are named in the suit, though it is unclear why the latter is mentioned.
In the suit, the family is 鈥渞equesting judgement against the defendants鈥� and is seeking compensation that a court deems 鈥渏ust and equitable,鈥� as well as attorneys fees.
鈥淭hese devastating losses were entirely preventable,鈥� said Tamaki Law attorney Jeff Kreutz. 鈥淥ur clients are seeking justice, accountability, and change to ensure no other families endure the same heartbreak caused by impaired driving.鈥�
础听聽to help cover funeral expenses.
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