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.
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