Off-duty WSP trooper’s attorney issues statement following fatal crash
By Dan Thesman on Friday, April 4th, 2025 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
RICHLAND, Washington – A month following a fatal crash involving off-duty Washington State Patrol Trooper Sarah Lee Clasen, her defense attorney Scott Johnson has issued a statement. He addresses the March 1 crash, the defense’s own independent investigation, and why he believes the public should not rush to judgement.
Here is Johnson’s full statement:
“On March 1, 2025, my client was involved in a fatal accident on Highway 240 in Richland, WA. Since then, the case has received unprecedented public interest, both nationally and internationally. This intense interest has made it extraordinarily difficult to ensure my client’s right to fair and impartial proceedings.
“Cases of this nature are highly complex. To be found guilty of vehicular homicide, the accused must have been the proximate cause of the accident that resulted in death. If the deceased individual was responsible for the accident, then the accused cannot be guilty of vehicular homicide.
“Determining the cause of an accident requires extensive data, expert analysis, and, most importantly, time.
“The defense is actively conducting its own independent investigation. This includes independent toxicology testing, accident scene reconstruction, and interviewing multiple fact witnesses, including those who may have observed motorcycles racing on or near Highway 240 at the time of the accident.
“In today’s world, people demand instant answers and then rush to judgment. However, drawing conclusions without all the facts is not only irresponsible, but also unjust to our client. She deserves and the law demands that she receives fair and impartial proceedings – not a system biassed against her.”
Johnson was asked about the timeline of the defense’s own independent investigation.
“Part of the difficulty for the defense is that we are not able to obtain access to all the evidence and reports we need until the case is charged, if it is,” Johnson answered. “So, I don’t really know what the timeline will be.”
A toxicology report shows Clasen had a blood alcohol content of 0.17, over twice the legal limit. She spent about four hours at Moon Palace, a restaurant and bar in Richland, then picked up an order at a Domino’s Pizza in Richland before colliding with motorcyclist Jhoser Emmanuel Vega-Sanchez, 20, who died at a local hospital. Clasen refused sobriety tests and was arrested for vehicular homicide. She was released on her own recognizance following her first court appearance on March 3 and remains on paid leave.
