Illegal Immigrant Charged in Fatal Crash That Killed Washington State Trooper

Raul Benitez Santana, an illegal immigrant with a history of criminal convictions, faces charges of vehicular homicide after crashing into Trooper Christopher Gadd's patrol car.

Raul Benitez Santana, a 33-year-old Mexican national, was arrested after his SUV struck and killed Trooper Christopher Gadd on Interstate 5 near Marysville, Washington.
Santana, who entered the U.S. illegally, has a criminal record including convictions for driving with a suspended license, possession, and domestic violence.
At the time of the crash, Santana admitted to smoking marijuana and drinking beers; a breathalyzer test indicated his blood alcohol level was under the legal limit.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has issued a detainer for Santana, signaling potential removal to his home country.
Trooper Gadd, a 27-year-old husband and father, had served with the Washington State Patrol for two and a half years at the time of his death.