Man charged with vehicular homicide in wrong-way I-5 crash that killed Blaine man
The 75-year-old Pierce County man who allegedly drove the wrong way on Interstate 5 in northern Whatcom County, causing a fatal accident in early July, has been charged with vehicular homicide, according to Whatcom County Superior Court records.
Gary Vernon Johnson, of Graham, was charged July 9 with one count of vehicular homicide, a felony. Johnson was booked into the Whatcom County Jail on July 3, and released July 4 on $50,000 bail, according to jail records.
Washington State Patrol received several calls shortly after 8:20 p.m. on July 1 about a wrong-way driver in a silver 1998 Lexus GS going southbound in the northbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 261, just north of Slater Road. Several minutes later, State Patrol began receiving calls that the Lexus had hit a red 2001 Toyota Camry head-on, according to Trooper Heather Axtman.
Johnson was identified as the driver of the Lexus, according to court records. His passenger, 73-year-old David B. Johnson of Blaine, died at the scene, according to State Patrol and court records.
Gary Johnson was unresponsive when law enforcement and aid arrived on scene, according to court records. Johnson was taken to St. Joseph hospital where it was determined he had a broken sternum and nose, court records state.
Johnson also allegedly admitted to drinking at least five beers and taking medication before driving, court records state.
The driver and sole occupant of the Camry, 18-year-old Ilia M. Castrejon, of Ferndale, was also taken to St. Joseph hospital, where she was treated and released.
Axtman said Johnson drove around a mile and a half the wrong way on Interstate 5 before hitting Castrejon.
It was the first alcohol-related fatality in Whatcom County this year, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.
This story was originally published July 13, 2020 at 1:05 PM.
