WASHINGTON STATE – Washington State Patrol Trooper Sarah Clasen is scheduled for a court date in her vehicular homicide case, six months after a crash that killed 20-year-old Jhoser Sanchez.
Clasen is charged with vehicular homicide while under the influence. Yolimar Sanchez, Jhoser’s mother, spoke about her ongoing struggle. “There are high days, low days. There are days I don’t want to go out honestly,” she said.
Jhoser Sanchez was killed in a crash involving off-duty Trooper Sarah Clasen on March 1. A toxicology report revealed Clasen’s blood alcohol level was 0.17 percent, more than double the legal limit. Jhoser was sober.
Yolimar described her son as “a very cheerful, hard-working kid. He worked at Lamb Weston. For 20-years-old he was very responsible. He liked going to the movies. He played sports, and he liked going out with his friends to eat sushi, it was his favorite food.”
Clasen was released on her own recognizance shortly after the crash. Her arraignment is set for September 24, where she will face the charge of vehicular homicide while under the influence.
“We hope they’ll be fair and that she gets what she deserves, that she gets a fair sentence, that she doesn’t get privileges for being this patrol, that she’s tried like any other civilian,” Yolimar added.
The Sanchez family continues to seek justice, bearing the lasting pain of their loss. “And here at home, he was fun. He was always with us. He made time for everything. He was responsible. Very cheerful, he was the joy of the house. When he was in this house, it was always noisy. Now, it’s silent.”
