A Tri-Cities woman is being held in lieu of $150,000 bail in connection with an impaired-driving crash that killed two motorcyclists Friday near Selah.
Yakima County prosecutors have asked the Washington State Patrol's crime lab to expedite its test on blood drawn from Beth Ann Striver after the crash on State Route 821 near Sundown M Ranch.
A public defender argued during a Monday court hearing that police failed to demonstrate that there was probable cause to arrest the 24-year-old Kennewick woman.
"What we have in court is observations, and observations only," said Melissa Derry, who is assigned to represent defendants during preliminary appearance hearings.
But Yakima County Superior Court Judge Sonia Rodriguez True found probable cause to hold Striver on suspicion of vehicular homicide and vehicular assault.
Striver was heading north on State Route 821 around 11 a.m. Friday and turned left to enter the substance abuse treatment facility's property right in front of a group of motorcyclists heading south, according to a State Patrol affidavit.
Striver's Ford Escape hit the lead motorcyclist, Rodney Ahrens of Issaquah, and the second motorcycle, driven by Randy Agnew, also of Issaquah, crashed into the SUV, the affidavit said. Steven and Drusilla Moeller of Renton were on a third motorcycle. They tried avoiding the crash but the bike fell over, ejecting them.
The four cyclists were first taken to MultiCare Yakima Memorial Hospital, where Ahrens, 69, died from his injuries. Agnew, 75, was flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where he died, the affidavit said.
Both men died from multiple blunt-force trauma, according to Yakima County Coroner Jim Curtice and the King County Medical Examiner's Office.
Steve Moller, 68, had a "shattered" foot from the crash, while Drusilla Moeller, 61, broke her leg, the affidavit said.
Troopers said Striver showed obvious signs of intoxication — bloodshot, watery eyes, an odor of intoxicants, slurred speech — and field sobriety tests indicated she was intoxicated.
At Monday's hearing, Deputy Yakima County Prosecuting Attorney Richard Fisher asked Rodriguez True to maintain the $150,000 bail that was set over the weekend. While Striver has no prior criminal history, the severity of the crash warranted a high bail, Fisher said.
And if she can post bail, Fisher asked that she be evaluated by a designated crisis responder due to concerns about possible suicidal behavior.
Derry argued that troopers did not provide proof that she had to be arrested, noting that there was no mention in the affidavit of the blood draw or any preliminary breath test, and troopers did not give specifics as to the field sobriety tests that were administered and how she performed in them.
Any statements that Striver made to troopers also cannot be used against her in court, Derry said. If the court found probable cause, Derry asked that Striver be released on court supervision.
But Rodriguez True said there was probable cause, and that if Striver were to be released from custody, she would pose a threat to the community. In addition to the bail, Rodriguez True also ordered Striver to get an ankle monitor that would detect alcohol in her system if she is released, and pay for it herself.
Derry objected to that last requirement, as Striver has been found indigent.
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