Man found guilty in fatal I-5 crash that killed WA State Patrol trooper
Man found guilty of hitting, killing WA State Patrol trooper
Raul Benitez-Santana, 33, was found guilty of vehicular assault and vehicular homicide in the death of Washington State Patrol Trooper Christopher Gadd.
EVERETT, Wash. - A jury has returned a guilty verdict in the trial for a man who hit and killed a Washington State Patrol trooper last year.
Raul Benitez-Santana, 33, was found guilty of vehicular assault and vehicular homicide in connection to the death of Washington State Patrol Trooper Christopher Gadd.
The backstory:
The fatal crash happened in March 2024, where Benitez-Santana crashed into Trooper Gadd's patrol car at more than 100 miles per hour on Interstate 5 near Marysville.
Marysville mourns loss of trooper killed in I-5 crash
The Washington State Patrol (WSP) trooper who died in a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 5 near Marysville early Saturday morning has been identified.
Investigators said Benitez-Santana was under the influence at the time of the crash, and admitted to drinking and smoking weed before driving.
Court documents state Benitez-Santana was swerving across the road before slamming into the rear end of Gadd's vehicle, which was parked on the shoulder.
Trooper Gadd was 27 years old.
The trial began on May 23, and the jury returned a verdict just hours after deliberations.
Trial for man accused in Washington State Patrol Trooper’s death begins
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.
Washington State Patrol Chief John R. Batiste released the following statement in response to the verdict in Benitez-Santana's trial:
"The Washington State Patrol would like to thank the people of Washington for their outpouring of support for our fallen Trooper Christopher Gadd, his family, loved ones, and those who served our state and system of justice by serving on the jury of his killer.
"On March 2, 2024, Trooper Gadd was pronounced dead at the scene, after being struck by driver Raul Benitez-Santana. Benitez-Santana was driving over 100 miles per hour and impaired when he struck Trooper Gadd's vehicle. Benitez-Santana was charged with vehicular homicide and vehicular assault while under the influence.
"The jury’s unanimous verdicts of guilty of vehicular homicide and vehicular assault are just and welcomed. With this decision, one more dangerous driver is removed from our streets, something Christopher Gadd dedicated his life to doing with every shift, by committing himself to conducting ‘one more stop’ on every day he served our state as a Washington State Trooper.
"While the verdict does not take away the pain of losing Chris, it does offer a modicum of relief for those who served with and loved this fine young man. Our thoughts and enduring support remain with his widow and young daughter as well as his mother, father, and sister.
"We will never forget Trooper Chris Gadd."
What's next:
Benitez-Santana will be sentenced in July.
The Source: Information in this story came from the Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, Snohomish County Superior Court and FOX 13 Seattle reporting.
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