Overview
- 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.