Wrongful death lawsuit filed against off-duty WSP trooper in DUI-related crash

BENTON COUNTY, Washington – A wrongful death lawsuit was filed Monday in Benton County on behalf of the family of Jhoser Emmanuel Vega-Sanchez, 20, of Richland who died in what is alleged to have been a DUI-related crash with an off-duty Washington State Patrol trooper on March 1 in Richland.

The lawsuit claims Sarah Lee Clasen, 35, of Richland, was driving intoxicated and did not yield the right-of-way before turning in front of Vega-Sanchez’s motorcycle on State Route 240.

The lawsuit states, “Clasen’s failure to exercise ordinary care and to obey Washington law proximately caused injuries, damages, harms and losses to the plaintiffs in an amount to be determined at trial.”

Clasen refused to complete a standardized field sobriety test and preliminary breath tests, according to the Richland Police Department. RPD officers determined she was impaired during the crash and arrested her for vehicular homicide. A blood sample was taken and is pending analysis.

 Clasen, a 14-year Washington State Patrol veteran, has been put on paid leave. She was released on her own recognizance after her first court appearance on March 3.

Photo via Richland Police Department shows Clasen’s SUV and Vega-Sanchez’s motorcycle following March 1 crash

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