EVERETT — A woman out on bail in connection with the death of a pedestrian in Marysville has been arrested again on suspicion of drunken driving.
Police say Theresa Ecklund, 43, passed out in the back seat of a patrol car after she was arrested in June during a countywide crackdown on intoxicated drivers.
The arresting officer noted that Ecklund was “blasted,” according to court documents filed Wednesday. At the time, Ecklund was out on bail for a Dec. 10 fatal crash that took the life of David Johnson.
Prosecutors on Wednesday charged Ecklund with vehicular homicide in Johnson’s death. Ecklund on Thursday pleaded not guilty to the charge. A judge ordered her held on $250,000 bail.
Prosecutors allege that Ecklund, of Kenmore, was drunk and high on methamphetamine when she struck Johnson in a crosswalk on Fifth Street near State Avenue. He died at a local hospital from multiple head injuries.
Medical investigators concluded that Johnson’s own blood-alcohol level was three times the legal limit. His intoxication may have contributed to the accident, Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Tobin Darrow wrote.
Police investigating the incident noted that Ecklund swayed as she stood and smelled of alcohol. She allegedly failed field sobriety tests. Ecklund was taken to an Everett hospital where her blood was drawn. Tests revealed that her blood-alcohol level at .12 was above the legal limit, Darrow wrote. The tests also showed that Ecklund also had methamphetamine in her system, court papers said.
Ecklund allegedly told officers that she was turning left and never saw Johnson.
She was booked into jail in December and was released after posting $50,000 bail.
The case was under review when Ecklund was arrested in June for investigation of drunken driving. She was scheduled to be arraigned last week. When she failed to show up, a judge ordered her arrested on a $100,000 warrant. Ecklund was picked up Tuesday night and booked into jail.
She has a 1986 drunken driving conviction, according to court records.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com.
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