Medical examiner on scene of deadly crash cited for DUI
MARYSVILLE, Wash. -- An investigator with the Snohomish County Medical Examiner's Office who had been called to the scene of a deadly crash involving alcohol was cited himself for driving under the influence, the state patrol said.
The crash occurred Sunday night along Highway 9 near Marysville. Four people were killed when their car was struck by another vehicle that had run a stop sign. Troopers have arrested the driver who caused the crash for investigation of vehicular homicide and said he was driving drunk.
When the first investigator arrived, the trooper on the scene smelled alcohol on the investigator's breath and pulled him off the investigation, said Trooper Keith Leary.
The trooper called for backup and told dispatchers the investigator possibly had been drinking. Two other investigators arrived on the scene and began the investigation, Leary said, adding the scene was not compromised.
Leary said the investigator arrived in a county-owned car. He was cited for DUI and then given a ride home.
The investigator has been put on administrative leave. The State Patrol has since referred charges to the prosecutor's office.
"(It's) totally unacceptable to have any kind of alcohol in your system while you're working," said Carolyn Sanden, the deputy director of the Snohomish County Medical Examiner's office. She added the investigator was an eight-year veteran of the office and was "a good investigator."
The Washington State Patrol said while they have full faith in the Snohomish County Medical Examiner's office, they have a zero tolerance police toward drinking on the job.
The crash occurred Sunday night along Highway 9 near Marysville. Four people were killed when their car was struck by another vehicle that had run a stop sign. Troopers have arrested the driver who caused the crash for investigation of vehicular homicide and said he was driving drunk.
When the first investigator arrived, the trooper on the scene smelled alcohol on the investigator's breath and pulled him off the investigation, said Trooper Keith Leary.
The trooper called for backup and told dispatchers the investigator possibly had been drinking. Two other investigators arrived on the scene and began the investigation, Leary said, adding the scene was not compromised.
Leary said the investigator arrived in a county-owned car. He was cited for DUI and then given a ride home.
The investigator has been put on administrative leave. The State Patrol has since referred charges to the prosecutor's office.
"(It's) totally unacceptable to have any kind of alcohol in your system while you're working," said Carolyn Sanden, the deputy director of the Snohomish County Medical Examiner's office. She added the investigator was an eight-year veteran of the office and was "a good investigator."
The Washington State Patrol said while they have full faith in the Snohomish County Medical Examiner's office, they have a zero tolerance police toward drinking on the job.