STANWOOD — Ceanna J. Diller, 20, died as a passenger in a car crash Friday afternoon after the driver allegedly swerved off the road and into a tree, according to a police report filed in Snohomish County Superior Court.
The driver, a 25-year-old Mountlake Terrace man, later admitted drinking beforehand and was arrested for investigation of vehicular homicide. He’s being held in the Snohomish County Jail.
Diller, of Stanwood, was the only passenger, and no other vehicles were involved. She was identified Monday by the Snohomish County Medical Examiner. An autopsy showed she died of blunt-force trauma.
The crash occurred north of Stanwood, in the 29200 block of 80th Avenue Northwest. A deputy from the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office arrived around 3:40 p.m. The driver was ejected from the vehicle and was receiving medical help.
A witness reportedly cut Diller from her seat belt to remove her from the vehicle. She died at the scene, court documents say.
About 40 minutes later, the driver was transported to Skagit Valley Hospital in Mount Vernon. There, a deputy asked if he had been drinking.
“He stated that he had approximately four IPA beers,” the deputy wrote. “I could see that his eyes were glossy which in my training and experience is a sign of alcoholic beverage intoxication.”
The man said he saw a small animal in the road and swerved to avoid hitting it. That’s when he allegedly lost control of the vehicle and hit the tree. The speed limit there is 35 mph, but he said he was driving around 50 mph.
Detectives later determined the vehicle was likely traveling at 80 mph or more, according to the arrest report.
On Monday, his bail was set at $10,000.
Stephanie Davey: 425-339-3192; sdavey@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @stephrdavey.
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