Richland, WA
A motorcycle crash involving an off-duty Washington State Patrol (WSP) trooper resulted in a fatality on March 1, 2025.
Trooper Sarah Clasen, 35, struck 20-year-old Jhoser Vega Sanchez while turning from Highway 240 into her neighborhood around 7:40 p.m., according to authorities. Clasen, who was off-duty, was subsequently arrested for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and later charged with vehicular homicide.
Emergency responders arrived shortly after the accident, but Vega Sanchez was pronounced dead at Kadlec Regional Medical Center shortly thereafter. Clasen’s blood-alcohol level was recorded at 0.17%, more than twice the legal limit.
The Richland Police Department took charge of the investigation at 8:15 p.m. after initial assessments by WSP officers. Body camera footage from the scene revealed that Clasen initially reported that everyone was “OK” before indicating that Vega Sanchez did not have a pulse.
During the investigation, Clasen requested to leave the scene multiple times but was instructed to remain until detectives arrived. She refused to take field sobriety tests, citing concerns about her prior alcohol consumption.
Clasen has pleaded not guilty to the charges and remains on paid leave pending trial, now scheduled for February 2026. The case has drawn public scrutiny regarding potential preferential treatment.
Investigators emphasized that the involvement of WSP officers at the scene did not influence the subsequent investigation.