Published: Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Police allege drug use played role in Monroe SUV crash
MONROE — Police say the man who caused a serious traffic crash near Monroe in September tested positive for seven drugs including methamphetamine, morphine, marijuana and powerful sleep and anti-anxiety medicines.
After Noel McLane, 47, turned himself in to police Monday, officials say they found more evidence of the man’s drug use. As police were booking McLane into the Snohomish County Jail they found what they believed to a plastic baggy full of marijuana in his pocket.
Police now plan to add illegal drug possession to the vehicular assault investigation already under way against McLane, Monroe police spokeswoman Debbie Willis said.
McLane was behind the wheel of a Toyota 4-Runner sport utility vehicle early on the morning of Sept. 21 when he swerved across the center line and struck another oncoming SUV, police said.
The crash along Highway 522 near U.S. 2 sent McLane, his passenger and the driver of the other vehicle to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. The driver of the other vehicle, a Snohomish man, 53, suffered serious injuries and now lives with a disability that makes it difficult for him to walk and go about his daily routine, according to a police affidavit filed Tuesday in Everett District Court.
The police report doesn’t describe the extent of McLane’s injuries or those of his passenger. McLane wore a red cast on his right hand in court Tuesday.
McLane denied using methamphetamine but admitted using marijuana, police said. He said that he sometimes took Oxycontin too, police said.
When detectives asked why his blood tested positive for meth, McLane reportedly said, “Someone must (have) drugged my pop.”
A judge on Tuesday ordered McLane held in lieu of $25,000 bail.
Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437, jholtz@heraldnet.com.
After Noel McLane, 47, turned himself in to police Monday, officials say they found more evidence of the man’s drug use. As police were booking McLane into the Snohomish County Jail they found what they believed to a plastic baggy full of marijuana in his pocket.
Police now plan to add illegal drug possession to the vehicular assault investigation already under way against McLane, Monroe police spokeswoman Debbie Willis said.
McLane was behind the wheel of a Toyota 4-Runner sport utility vehicle early on the morning of Sept. 21 when he swerved across the center line and struck another oncoming SUV, police said.
The crash along Highway 522 near U.S. 2 sent McLane, his passenger and the driver of the other vehicle to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. The driver of the other vehicle, a Snohomish man, 53, suffered serious injuries and now lives with a disability that makes it difficult for him to walk and go about his daily routine, according to a police affidavit filed Tuesday in Everett District Court.
The police report doesn’t describe the extent of McLane’s injuries or those of his passenger. McLane wore a red cast on his right hand in court Tuesday.
McLane denied using methamphetamine but admitted using marijuana, police said. He said that he sometimes took Oxycontin too, police said.
When detectives asked why his blood tested positive for meth, McLane reportedly said, “Someone must (have) drugged my pop.”
A judge on Tuesday ordered McLane held in lieu of $25,000 bail.
Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437, jholtz@heraldnet.com.
Story tags »
• Monroe • Snohomish • Assault • Police • Car accident • Toyota • Injuries • Highway 522Comments
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