SEATTLE — A Brier woman, who authorities suspect was high on methamphetamine, told police she closed her eyes and intentionally crashed her car in Seattle on Friday, killing two pedestrians and injuring two others.
According to new court papers, the 23-year-old woman was driving a blue Nissan Sentra around 1 p.m., heading northbound on Aurora Avenue North. She appeared to be speeding in the bus lane when she hit a curb, sending her car airborne at the intersection of North 40th Street and Aurora. An officer noted a damaged brick wall and and signs and poles that had been recently knocked down. The car had become “unrecognizable,” the officer wrote, to the point that he couldn’t tell it was a Nissan Sentra.
Rebecca Richman, 28, died at the scene, and 26-year-old Michael Richman later died at the hospital. The King County Medical Examiner’s Office determined they both died from multiple blunt force injuries.
Two other men were injured. One couldn’t stand up afterward, citing neck and back pain, and another was transported by aid car with unknown injuries, court papers say.
Witnesses reported that the suspect didn’t stay at the scene. Instead, she reportedly changed clothes and walked away while carrying a bush. Seattle police arrested her after a brief chase and struggle, according to court papers.
When talking to police, the woman reportedly was “laughing and speaking nonsensically.” She refused to participate in sobriety tests, but officers believe she might have been high on methamphetamine. The police report noted her slowed speech and her droopy and watery eyes. Police obtained a search warrant for a blood draw.
The suspect was booked into the King County Jail for investigation of vehicular homicide, vehicular assault and felony hit and run. On Monday, a judge set bail at $500,000.
Zachariah Bryan: 425-339-3431; zbryan@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @zachariahtb.
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