GOLD BAR — A driver told a Washington State Patrol trooper he was going to dinner in Monroe when he allegedly hit and killed a pedestrian around 6 p.m. Friday.
Martin Milburn, 60, died at the scene on U.S. 2 at milepost 28 in Gold Bar. He was from Sultan.
The driver, Christopher Kelly of Gold Bar, was arrested for investigation of vehicular homicide.
A trooper found a red 2005 Ford Escape facing west, blocking the intersection at 387th Avenue SE and U.S. 2.
It was dark and foggy, the trooper noted in his report.
Kelly, 49, reportedly told the trooper he was shaken up as he had just killed someone. The trooper reported a “strong odor” of alcohol coming from Kelly’s breath as he spoke. His eyes were bloodshot and watery, according to State Patrol.
The trooper asked how much Kelly had to drink that night. He reportedly said he had two glasses of wine. His speech was slurred, the trooper wrote in the report.
Kelly agreed to take sobriety tests. A breathalyzer came back with a blood-alcohol level of 0.081, just above the legal limit. He also noted he takes a prescription drug, but hadn’t in the 24 hours before the crash.
He was in the Snohomish County Jail on Monday with bail set at $20,000. Deputy prosecutor Bob Hendrix pushed for $100,000. Kelly’s public defender argued for $10,000 or less.
“We think he presents a danger to the motoring public and, ultimately, someone has already died,” Hendrix said.
If he makes bail, Everett District Court Judge Tam Bui ordered that Kelly can’t drive, possess alcohol or non-prescribed drugs or refuse sobriety tests requested by law enforcement.
In the past decade, three other pedestrians have died on the Snohomish County portion of U.S. 2, in or near Monroe, Sultan and Gold Bar, according to state Department of Transportation data.
Jake Goldstein-Street: 425-339-3439; jake.goldstein-street@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @GoldsteinStreet.
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