Everett driver gets 6½ years for crashing into tree, killing passenger

EVERETT — An Everett man has been sentenced to 6½ years in prison for crashing his car into a tree while drunk, killing his friend who was inside.

Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Edirin Okoloko sentenced Arthur Injinmej, 21, on Wednesday, after he pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide while driving under the influence.

Early the morning of March 6, Injinmej had been drinking with his sister’s boyfriend, David Phillip, and a few other friends at a local park.

Around 4 a.m., Injinmej was driving with Phillip in the 700 block of East Marine View Drive in Everett when he crashed his Infiniti G25 into a tree, according to court documents.

When police arrived, the car was destroyed. The Infiniti was missing a tire and the car was almost split in two, court documents said.

Phillip was found in the road and pronounced dead at the scene.

When police arrived, Injinmej was outside of his car and walking around, the charges said. Their friends had been driving behind him and stayed at the scene. One of the witnesses said Phillip flew out of the car.

Injinmej admitted to driving the car, according to court records. The defendant appeared unsteady while standing and swayed back and forth.

“What the (expletive) is wrong with the car?” Injinmej said to police.

Police noted Injinmej’s breath smelled like alcohol. When police asked if he had been drinking, he shook his head. The officer noted Injinmej’s eyes were glossy.

While being taken to the hospital, Injinmej reportedly changed course, acknowledging he had been drinking alcohol, but hadn’t done any drugs, according to a police report. A toxicology report taken about 6½ hours after the crash found 0.03 grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters and 6.4 nanograms of THC per milliliter in his blood, according to court documents.

The legal limit for THC is 5. THC is the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.

Injinmej had a couple previous driving infractions, according to court records. In 2020, police ticketed him for driving 20 mph over the speed limit. Later that year, he was fined for driving without insurance.

Jonathan Tall: 425-339-3486; jonathan.tall@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @snocojon.