By Jim Haley
Herald Writer
A Sultan man was charged Monday with one count of vehicular homicide and one count of vehicular assault for allegedly driving while intoxicated along U.S. 2 on July 4 and slamming his GMC pickup into a small station wagon.
Shawn Lee Knutsen, 33, faces the two felonies at least in part because he was driving with a blood alcohol level more than three times the legal limit of .08 percent, according to charging papers filed in Snohomish County Superior Court.
Cody B. Gronlund, 33, of Oroville died about 11:30 p.m. in the crash. His fiance, Traysha Young-Cottrell, and her brother, Thomas Young, both had head and facial injuries. Young was more seriously injured and was taken by helicopter to a hospital in Seattle.
A witness told Washington State Patrol investigators he had been behind Knutsen’s pickup heading east on U.S. 2 and had noticed the truck "weave noticeably, crossing the centerline several times," according to an affidavit written by deputy prosecutor Randy Yates.
The same witness, Yates said, was one of several who saw Knutsen’s truck cross into the westbound lane near Monroe and collide with Gronlund’s Plymouth Colt.
After the collision, Knutsen’s vehicle traveled onto the westbound shoulder and overturned.
Another witness went to Knutsen’s aid when he was helped from the truck and noticed that he had slurred speech. A trooper said he noticed the odor of alcohol on Knutsen, Yates said.
According to court records, Knutsen has two previous drunken driving convictions.
Knutsen was taken to Valley General Hospital in Monroe where he was arrested.
Yates said a trooper asked Knutsen if he believed alcohol could have affected his driving. He said it "could have." Yates said the defendant admitted having "six or so" beers.
You can call Herald Writer Jim Haley at 425-339-3447 or send e-mail to haley@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
