Illegal immigrant guilty of vehicular homicide in Washington trooper’s death

Jurors in Washington state delivered a guilty verdict against an illegal immigrant accused of killing a state trooper last year. 

Raul Benitez-Santana, 33, was found guilty of vehicular assault and vehicular homicide in connection with the death of Washington State Patrol Trooper Christopher Gadd.

Gadd, 27, was killed when his cruiser was hit by a speeding car in March 2024 at more than 100 mph. 

TEEN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT WHO KILLED WOMAN IN COLORADO CRASH GETS PROBATION, THEN IS ARRESTED BY ICE WITH FAMILY

Benitez-Santana was under the influence at the time of the crash, and admitted to drinking and smoking marijuana before driving, Fox Seattle reported. 

He was swerving across the road before slamming into the rear end of Gadd’s vehicle, which was parked on the shoulder. Gadd was watching for speeding and DUI drivers, when he was struck and killed in a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 5.

After his arrest, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued a detainer request with Snohomish County Jail for Benitez-Santana, a Mexican citizen. 

ICE CAPTURES ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT WANTED FOR ALLEGEDLY KILLING MOTHER IN DUI CRASH

He was first encountered by immigration agents on Oct. 28, 2013, at the South Correctional Entity in Burien, Washington, after being arrested for failing to appear in court for driving on a suspended license.

He was also sentenced to 90 days behind bars, with 87 of the days suspended, in May 2013, after being convicted of possessing less than 40 grams of marijuana.

On Oct. 6, 2014, Santana was sentenced to 90 days behind bars for driving on a suspended license, and in May 2019, was arrested again for domestic violence assault.

Fox News Digital has reached out to ICE. 

Fox News Digital’s Greg Wehner and Timothy H.J. Nerozzi contributed to this report.