Nearly six months after a fatal crash that killed a 20-year-old man, prosecutors have charged Washington State Patrol Trooper Sarah L. Clasen with vehicular homicide while under the influence. The charge stems from a March 1 collision that claimed the life of Jhoser Vega Sanchez on Highway 240 in Richland.
Spokane Assistant Criminal Chief Attorney Katie McNulty officially filed the charge Thursday. Clasen, 35, is accused of driving under the influence when she struck Vega Sanchez’s motorcycle while turning toward her home in the Horn Rapids neighborhood around 7:30 p.m. that evening.
Sanchez was critically injured and later pronounced dead at Kadlec Regional Medical Center.
The crash sparked intense public scrutiny, with hundreds of comments flooding police and media pages questioning the lack of charges. That pressure persisted for months as officials reviewed the case. Benton County Prosecutor Eric Eisinger requested Spokane County handle the prosecution to avoid any appearance of conflict due to close ties between his office and the Washington State Patrol.
According to court documents, Clasen refused to answer officers’ questions about alcohol consumption at the scene, stating only that she “didn’t feel impaired.” Witnesses reported that she appeared slow to respond and may have attempted to leave the crash site. Investigators also noted her demeanor was disturbingly casual. “Sarah showed no empathy while on scene and she laughed casually while discussing the dire condition Vega Sanchez was in,” the documents stated.
Further investigation revealed that Clasen and her husband had spent nearly four hours at a local Richland bar—a former Chinese restaurant—prior to the crash. Reports obtained through public records indicate the couple were regular patrons.
Despite the severity of the allegations, Clasen will not be booked into jail before her arraignment, scheduled for September 24. She remains on paid administrative leave, according to WSP officials.
Her attorney, Scott Johnson, defended Clasen, stating that the public has rushed to judgment without knowing the full context. “In today’s world, people demand instant answers and then rush to judgment,” Johnson said. “She deserves, and the law demands that she receives, fair and impartial proceedings—not a system biased against her.”
This case has heightened public calls for accountability and transparency, especially involving law enforcement officers accused of criminal misconduct.
