Illegal Mexican migrant allegedly kills Washington state trooper in high-speed crash after drinking, smoking weed
An illegal migrant from Mexico with a lengthy rap sheet has been arrested for allegedly crashing his vehicle into a Washington state trooper, killing the 27-year-old husband and father.
Raul Benitez Santana, 33, admitted to smoking weed and drinking beers before slamming his SUV into Trooper Christopher Gadd’s patrol car in the early hours of Saturday, Fox 13 Seattle reported, citing probable cause documents.
A witness told police the fast-moving SUV swerved and hit the back of Gadd’s patrol car as it was parked on the shoulder of Interstate 5 in Marysville, before spinning into the fast lane, where it was hit by a van.
Gadd, a married dad whose father and sister are also troopers, was pronounced dead at the scene.
“It is with a heavy heart that we report we lost a brother today,” State Police spokesperson Chris Loftis told KIRO Newsradio. “The troopers sign up for danger. They are brave people.”
Santana, of Lynwood, had bloodshot eyes and admitted to drinking two beers and smoking weed before driving, according to a probable cause statement obtained by KOMO.
He is being held on $1 million bail at the Snohomish County Jail after a judge found probable cause to charge him with vehicular homicide and vehicular assault.
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Seattle Enforcement and Removal Operations has placed an immigration detainer on Santana, a Mexican citizen who entered the US illegally, Fox 13 Seattle reported.
It’s not known when he arrived in the country, but an ICE spokesperson confirmed he’s had at least four run-ins with the law in Washington.
On May 3, 2013, Santana was reportedly fined $750 for driving with a suspended license in Lynwood. Two weeks later, he was sentenced to 90 days in jail with 87 days suspended for marijuana possession.
He “was first encountered by (Enforcement and Removal Operations) Seattle Oct. 28, 2013, at the South Correctional Entity, Burien, WA, following his arrest for failure to appear for driving while license suspended,” ICE said, according to KOMO.
On Oct. 6, 2014, he was sentenced to 90 days in jail with 85 days suspended for driving with a suspended license.
And on May 24, 2019, Santana was charged with domestic violence assault in King County.
Gadd, who joined the state patrol on Sept. 16, 2021, became its 33rd member to die in the line of duty.
He is survived by his wife, Cammryn, daughter Kaelyn, father and fellow Trooper David Gadd, mother Gillian, and sister Jacqueline, a trooper with the Texas Department of Public Safety.
“We are working through what is undoubtedly the most difficult of times for our family as we mourn the loss of a loving husband, devoted father, caring brother, beloved son, and committed friend,” Gadd’s family said in a statement Tuesday.
“We appreciate the outpouring of support we have seen from the community that Chris loved and served. We ask the media to respect our family’s privacy during this painful time,” they added.
