Hearing rescheduled for off-duty Washington State Patrol trooper charged in fatal crash
By Dan Thesman on Wednesday, March 11th, 2026 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
BENTON COUNTY, Washington — An omnibus hearing for an off-duty Washington State Patrol trooper charged with vehicular homicide, originally scheduled for today (Wednesday) has been rescheduled to Aug. 12, according to the Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office.
The continuance for Sarah Lee Clasen, 36, is intended to allow more time for discovery. Clasen is accused in the March 1, 2025, death of 20-year-old motorcyclist Jhoser Emmanuel Vega-Sanchez.
Defense attorney Scott Johnson said the team is still processing evidence from multiple agencies.
“Based on the volume and complexity of the evidence, it has taken a considerable amount of time for us to obtain everything we are entitled to receive and need for our review,” Johnson explained. “Additional key evidence has continued to come in, including as recently as this month.”
Prosecutors allege Clasen failed to yield at a Richland intersection while impaired. A blood test later revealed a blood alcohol content of 0.17, more than twice the legal limit.
Clasen remains on paid administrative leave with a $133,511 salary. WSP Director of Public Affairs Chris Loftis said the agency will wait for the criminal case to conclude before taking internal action.
“Our practice is to attend to any appropriate personnel action after court proceedings are complete,” Loftis added. “That way, our personnel actions do not influence a trial or jury deliberations.”
A pre-trial date is set for Sept. 10, with the trial scheduled for Sept. 28. Clasen also faces a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the victim’s family.
File photo via Richland Police Department of Clasen being questioned at crash scene
