Teen charged in fatal crash
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, October 12th, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
WALLA WALLA – A teenage girl from Walla Walla has been formally charged with vehicular homicide after she was involved in a crash early Saturday that killed Zaley Blocklinger, 14, of Walla Walla. Blocklinger was a freshman at Walla Walla High School.
Court documents state the 17-year-old driver called dispatch and said was operating a 2022 BMW sedan and that she and Blocklinger were involved in a collision and that they had both been drinking. When law enforcement arrived, the car was upside down. Undersheriff Joe Klundt said the accident happened at Foster and Reser roads. A responding deputy reported cans of Mike’s Hard Lemonade were inside the vehicle.
Blocklinger was pronounced deceased at the scene as she had been thrown from the vehicle. The driver was transported to Providence St. Mary Medical Center for evaluation. At the hospital, a warrant was executed for a blood draw. The sample was taken to the Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Office and put into evidence.
The deputy who responded said the accident appeared to have been caused by excessive speed, missing a corner, and there was no real indication of attempts to brake.
On Monday, the teenage driver made her first court appearance and is currently being held in the Walla Walla County Juvenile Justice Center. She will be back in court Oct. 21 for a hearing to permit her to admit or deny the charges and to set a trial date, if appropriate.
