| HeraldNet - Snohomish County's online news source |
 FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 2010 4:51 pm |
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Local News 
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Driver charged in deaths of 4 MARYSVILLE — Prosecutors on Wednesday filed vehicular homicide charges against the man accused of killing four people in Snohomish County's deadliest drunken-driving crash in recent memory.Matthew C. McDonald, 27, of Snohomish, was above the state's blood alcohol limit when he drove his sports utility vehicle into a sedan carrying two Clearview couples Sunday night, prosecutors allege. The four counts of vehicular homicide were filed in Everett District Court. McDonald drank eight beers before the accident on Highway 9 near Marysville, court papers said. He remained jailed Wednesday on $1 million bail. McDonald has a history of speeding tickets, but never has been convicted of felonies, court records show. Television news reports that he was under supervision by the state Department of Corrections were wrong, officials said. Meanwhile, tributes are being planned for the people who died: Brad Agerup, 54, a teacher at Mariner High School; his wife, Melissa Agerup, 48, who worked at The Everett Clinic; Hilda Woods, 62, a retired administrator with the Lake Washington School District and her husband, Tom Woods, 57, who sold electrical components for a family-owned business. Dozens of people are expected to participate in a candlelight vigil tonight near Mariner to honor Brad Agerup. “It will be hard for so many to find closure with this still so fresh, but hopefully this will help them find closure later,” said Kami Besson, 29, who graduated from Mariner in 1999. She planned tonight's memorial. “The vigil will have a different meaning for everyone and that's OK,” she said. A community service is scheduled Sunday at Mariner for the Agerups. Services for the Woodses are scheduled Tuesday at Washington Cathedral in Redmond. Reporter Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437, jholtz@heraldnet.com. Memorials planned A candlelight vigil and march are planned for Brad and Melissa Agerup at 7:30 tonight, beginning in the Albertsons parking lot, 520 128th St. SW near the bank. The group will walk to Mariner and return to congregate at a nearby restaurant. More information is available on Facebook at http://tinyurl.com/yz6aac3. A memorial service followed by a reception for the Agerups is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday, in the main gym at Mariner High School. A memorial service for Tom and Hilda Woods is planned for 1 p.m. Tuesday at Washington Cathedral, 12300 Woodinville-Redmond Road, Redmond. |
- The Kid (Griffey) strikes again!
- Teams from Snohomish County join in search for Colton Harris-Moore on Orcas
- State changes mind on how to handle Darrington graves in highway right-of-way
- Woman gets 17 months for lies, bribery
- Car thief eludes Everett police
- Frontier: Things aren’t that bad
- Everett plans big upgrades for city parks
- Suspects sought in Snohomish shooting
- Riders take to Community Transit's Swift buses
- Once again, Colton Harris-Moore eludes capture
- Monroe girl guilty of murder in Sultan gang slaying
(24) - State changes mind on how to handle Darrington graves in highway right-of-way (14)
- Police step up hunt for Colton Harris-Moore on Orcas Island (13)
- Riders take to Community Transit's Swift buses (10)
- Teams from Snohomish County join in search for Colton Harris-Moore on Orcas (10)
- Everett plans big upgrades for city parks (9)
- Senate eyeing smaller sales tax hike (6)
- Woman gets 17 months for lies, bribery (5)
- Census distrust misplaced (4)
- Once again, Colton Harris-Moore eludes capture (4)
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COMMENTS
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Mr. Bollinger, if they don't need to skew the data as you insist then explain to the rest of us why they do it? And while you're emotionally ranting explain why you feel the existing design and signs are adequate, when the fact is there are repeated accidents at this particular intersection that involve no alcohol? You're obviously emotionally impacted by an "alcohol related" event and that's unfortunate, but don't let your newly found blindness and emotions keep you from seeing the truth = statistics lie. Fact is, alcohol was one of the MANY factors that led to this unfortunate accident yet you and others seem to only focus on one thing. That my good man, is sad at best. Changing that intersection will save lives and your whining won't bring anyone back to life. Consider using your emotional energy to bring about a positive change.
RJ Tellulater | Dec 7, 2009 5:45 pm | 0 replies | Request removal
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Charge the Engineers? You're crazy too. What is so bad about the intersection? IT HAS A STOP SIGN! All you have to do is: 1.) Not be DRUNK 2.) READ the big red sign and do what it says.
Anyone with a college education has been trained to think critically about information that people throw out you, for instance your statement that more children die in swimming pools than alcohol related crashes. Well, children typically do not have drivers licenses and children typically don't go out to bars to get hammered. In that respect, there isn't that many kids driving drunk. The only child victims would be kids in the car with their parents that get hit by a dumba$$ drunk driver.
Bottom line is they do not really need to skew the facts on this one. Drunk driving is a serious problem and cost thousands upon thousands of unneccesary deaths. Perhaps ask the victim's children if DD is not that bad.
Perhaps ask yourself after a few of your close, loved ones get ripped from earth because some loser didn't want to call for a ride or leave his car somewhere.
In the US, DD is the leading criminal cause of death. Bigger then homicide and suicide (look it up). That's pretty big considering how many people Americans kill with guns. Not that big of a problem, huh?
Josh Bollinger | Dec 4, 2009 9:57 am | 0 replies | Request removal
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Stating facts and speaking the truth seems to be much harder when people are emotional. Currently, Washington drunk driving is defined (basically) as operating any motor vehicle while having a BAC level of .08 or greater. I definitely don't condone driving with a BAC higher but the fact is, its not illegal to drive if your BAC is lower than the law states. Yes, sadly this is another unfortunate "accident" amongst many in this world. For instance, did you know more people (children) drown in back-yard swimming pools each year than are killed in "alcohol related" car accidents. Understand the facts - if any person in any car involved in an accident has consumed alcohol (not just a driver) police tally it as an "alcohol related accident". Why the deception and lies?
Please pray for the victims and their families, pray for the man that contributed to their deaths and at the same time, don't forget to ask yourself why officials designed such a poor intersection, which obviously factored into this accident. Shouldn't we jail the engineers who designed this flawed intersection? Why no outcry asking for their accountability?
I proudly served my country and cherish my freedom of speech. Shouldn't the truth and facts prevail over twisted data, lies and deception? I'm simply asking questions I feel you should be asking and answering for yourself.
RJ Tellulater | Dec 3, 2009 10:16 pm | 1 replies | Request removal
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the fact is you are talking out of your ***, this state has two DUI laws, one is a .08 level the other is an impairment level....many people are severely impaired even under a .08 level. If someone crashes their car when they have been drinking it is reasonable to believe that alcohol had something to do with the colision.
Accountability starts with someone taking responsibility for their actions, this includes someone who plows through a stop sign and murders four innocent people.
some one | Dec 03, 2009 11:39 pm | Request removal
Walter, you're crazy if you think that he will not get sent to prison. A slap on the wrist? Probation? Really? Maybe if he had just been caught on strictly a DUI, and the people had made it back to their lives and their children. But that's not what happened. Matthew McDonald will go to prison, perhaps for not as long as what would serve justice, but he will spend at least 4-8 years behind bars. Clean record or not.
Josh Bollinger | Dec 3, 2009 8:41 pm | 0 replies | Request removal
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Well, let’s see. He will get a slap on the wrist, Community service and made to attend an alcohol course. Now if it was a Politicians family who were killed there may be some teeth put in the law but until then………nothing. The DUI laws have to be changed and changed NOW. One time and your out.
walter Lasher | Dec 3, 2009 8:28 am | 0 replies | Request removal
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This person may not be the criminal that Maurice Clemmons was, but the result is still the same. 4 innocent lives were taken by the actions of this person who decided to make a choice to get behind the wheel of a vehicle after consuming way too much alcohol. Punishment should fit the crime!
TopCat | Dec 3, 2009 6:59 am | 0 replies | Request removal
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