Tacoma firefighter admits he was drinking prior to fatal crash
TACOMA -- A Tacoma firefighter who's dedicated to saving lives is now charged with taking a life in a drunk driving crash.
Police say Joseph Mondeau admitted he was drinking just before hitting a motorcyclist in Tacoma Monday night just after sunset at 6th and Grant.
Mondeau was off duty heading home from a bar on Grant, while victim Mark Kaytna was on his motorcycle on 6th.
There are no stop signs in either direction. The two got to the intersection at the same time, and Kaytna was hit broadside.
"It's an uncontrolled intersection," said witness Cory Wagner. "The SUV; neither one slowed down. The motorcycle was broadsided."
The witnesses say Mondeau used his skill as an emergency medical technician to try to save Kaytna's life.
"It's ironic, but it's all just a shock," said Richard Hanss, Kaytna's brother. "I'm not here to judge anyone."
Prosecutors say the evening of the crash, Mondeau called a friend from a bar asking him to join him. The friend later told investigators that Mondeau was suicidal and the friend tried to give him a ride home, but he refused and drove his own car.
In court, Mondeau's attorney said his client isn't suicidal, but was getting counseling after being involved in a deadly fire a month ago.
"He pulled a woman who did not survive a fire a little over 30 days ago," said Robert Freeby. "And so he's been in counseling on that."
Police say Mondeau had a blood alcohol content of 0.12, that's 1.5 times the legal limit.
But since he has no criminal history, the judge let him stay out of custody on $10,000 bail.
This is the second loss in a few weeks for the Kaytna family. Their father just passed away. Their mother had just left for her native S. Korea and now must deal with her son being killed.
Police say Joseph Mondeau admitted he was drinking just before hitting a motorcyclist in Tacoma Monday night just after sunset at 6th and Grant.
Mondeau was off duty heading home from a bar on Grant, while victim Mark Kaytna was on his motorcycle on 6th.
There are no stop signs in either direction. The two got to the intersection at the same time, and Kaytna was hit broadside.
"It's an uncontrolled intersection," said witness Cory Wagner. "The SUV; neither one slowed down. The motorcycle was broadsided."
The witnesses say Mondeau used his skill as an emergency medical technician to try to save Kaytna's life.
"It's ironic, but it's all just a shock," said Richard Hanss, Kaytna's brother. "I'm not here to judge anyone."
Prosecutors say the evening of the crash, Mondeau called a friend from a bar asking him to join him. The friend later told investigators that Mondeau was suicidal and the friend tried to give him a ride home, but he refused and drove his own car.
In court, Mondeau's attorney said his client isn't suicidal, but was getting counseling after being involved in a deadly fire a month ago.
"He pulled a woman who did not survive a fire a little over 30 days ago," said Robert Freeby. "And so he's been in counseling on that."
Police say Mondeau had a blood alcohol content of 0.12, that's 1.5 times the legal limit.
But since he has no criminal history, the judge let him stay out of custody on $10,000 bail.
This is the second loss in a few weeks for the Kaytna family. Their father just passed away. Their mother had just left for her native S. Korea and now must deal with her son being killed.