EVERETT — An Arlington woman has admitted to being drunk and high when she caused a fatal collision on U.S. 2 in Monroe last year.
On July 30, Lorri Arnett, 55, pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide, a felony. She remains free awaiting sentencing Sept. 24.
A judge in May forbid her from driving while the case continues.
Arnett is facing a longer sentence because she has a previous DUI conviction, from 1997.
She could spend up to 13⅓ years in prison under state sentencing guidelines. As part of the plea, prosecutors agreed to recommend 10½ years. They also declined to seek additional charges for vehicular assault.
Lorri Arnett (Washington Department of Corrections)
Arnett was driving a Chevrolet Blazer southbound on Highway 9 near Lake Stevens on July 4, 2017. Another driver took note of the Blazer weaving in and out of its lane.
The other driver followed the Blazer onto eastbound U.S. 2 and saw it travel into oncoming traffic, according to charging papers filed this March.
In a westbound Chevrolet Malibu were Barbara H. Moell, 87, of Marysville, and her son-in-law, who was driving.
They were hit at the highway’s intersection with Roosevelt Road. Moell died days later at the hospital. The son-in-law, 64, suffered serious shoulder and knee injuries.
Witnesses found Arnett passed out in the Blazer. Police and medics reported that she smelled of alcohol.
In the plea paperwork, Arnett acknowledged that testing about 2½ hours after the crash showed her blood-alcohol level at 0.21, more than double the legal limit to drive. In addition, the marijuana in her system was three times over the legal limit.
Arnett has three previous felonies, two of which involved drugs, according to public records. The most recent conviction, from February, was for illegally possessing a firearm. She pleaded guilty in that case in Kitsap County and was ordered to spend three months in jail.
Arnett also has eight misdemeanors, including the DUI and at least four other driving offenses.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @rikkiking.
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