Woman charged with felony assault after multi-vehicle pileup

EVERETT — A Granite Falls woman who reportedly told police she smoked marijuana the day she caused a multi-vehicle crash on U.S. 2 is now charged with felony assault.

Heather Lee, 26, pleaded not guilty to two counts of vehicular assault Friday in Snohomish County Superior Court. She appeared via video camera from the jail. Lee has been locked up since her June 3 arrest.

Her attorney tried to convince a judge to release Lee on Friday, saying his client doesn’t have any prior criminal convictions. Lee, he said, is a full-time student who missed her final exams and is hoping to make them up.

She also has medical issues that may soon require surgery, he said. Lee’s left leg was bandaged and she used crutches to walk Friday.

Judge David Kurtz declined to set Lee free and kept bail at $100,000. If Lee posts bail, she is prohibited from driving until the case is resolved, the judge ordered.

The June 2 crash happened about 6:30 p.m. on a dry, straight stretch of the highway. Lee was eastbound, headed toward Sultan, with two children in the backseat. She reportedly told troopers that the children were fighting and she turned her head to check on them.

In front of her, a Chevrolet Blazer was stopped to make a left turn. A white minivan was stopped behind the Blazer.

Lee reportedly swerved and clipped the white minivan. She then struck a second minivan head-on. Another vehicle swerved to avoid the wreck and landed in a ditch.

A dozen people, ages 1 to 72, were involved in the pile-up.

Three people, including two boys, ages 10 and 13, were taken to Harborview Medical Center with severe injuries, including broken bones and internal wounds that required surgery.

Lee was taken to the hospital. A breath test didn’t show any signs that Lee was drunk but troopers reported that she appeared to be under the influence. Troopers found a marijuana pipe in the vehicle, court papers said.

Lee reportedly admitted to smoking marijuana earlier in the day. Troopers obtained a search warrant to draw Lee’s blood for testing. The charging papers don’t say if Lee tested positive for marijuana use.

Her attorney argued Friday that so far prosecutors haven’t provided any evidence showing that the crash was anything other than an accident.

The two children in Lee’s vehicle reportedly said that Lee was eating and driving, Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Tobin Darrow wrote. One child told a paramedic that Lee was steering her vehicle with her knees.

Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Everett mall renderings from Brixton Capital. (Photo provided by the City of Everett)
Topgolf at the Everett Mall? Mayor’s hint still unconfirmed

After Cassie Franklin’s annual address, rumors circled about what “top” entertainment tenant could be landing at Everett Mall.

Everett
Everett man sentenced to 3 years of probation for mutilating animals

In 2022, neighbors reported Blayne Perez, 35, was shooting and torturing wildlife in north Everett.

The Washington State University Snohomish County Extension building at McCollum Park is located in an area Snohomish County is considering for the location of the Farm and Food Center on Thursday, March 28, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Year-round indoor farmers market inches closer to reality near Mill Creek

The Snohomish County Farm and Food Center received $5 million in federal funding. The county hopes to begin building in 2026.

Dorothy Crossman rides up on her bike to turn in her ballot  on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett leaders plan to ask voters for property tax increase

City officials will spend weeks hammering out details of a ballot measure, as Everett faces a $12.6 million deficit.

Starbucks employee Zach Gabelein outside of the Mill Creek location where he works on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek Starbucks votes 21-1 to form union

“We obviously are kind of on the high of that win,” store bargaining delegate Zach Gabelein said.

Lynnwood police respond to a collision on highway 99 at 176 street SW. (Photo provided by Lynnwood Police)
Police: Teen in stolen car flees cops, causes crash in Lynnwood

The crash blocked traffic for over an hour at 176th Street SW. The boy, 16, was arrested on felony warrants.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.