A Prosser man had reportedly been drinking beer before he got behind the wheel of his truck early Saturday and drove the wrong way on Interstate 82, slamming head-on into a sedan and killing the driver.
Edward Eusebio Castilleja, 49, was charged late Tuesday afternoon in Benton County Superior Court with vehicular homicide.
He is being held on $100,000 bail and is expected to appear in court Thursday to enter a plea to the new charge.
Castilleja has hired Mendoza Law Offices of Kennewick and will be represented by Scott Johnson, a former Benton County deputy prosecutor who went into private practice just 11/2 weeks ago.
Angelica Barajas, 20, of Grandview, died at the scene of the 3 a.m. crash. She had been visiting friends in the Tri-Cities and was on her way home when her 2007 Chrysler 300 was hit.
Her passenger, Stephanie Vega, 11, suffered a broken leg and was treated for her injuries at Sunnyside Community Hospital. The Grandview girl is Barajas' cousin.
Benton County Prosecutor Andy Miller filed the documents Tuesday, citing an earlier report by Sgt. Tom Foster with the Washington State Patrol.
Castilleja appeared to have just gotten on I-82 at milepost 75 when his 2008 Chevy truck collided with the Chrysler. The wrong-way wreck was at the Benton and Yakima county line.
Foster told the Herald that Castilleja had been at the VFW Hall in Grandview before the crash.
Troopers found Castilleja seated in the driver's seat of the truck. He was the only one inside, court documents said.
"Castilleja had bloodshot and watery eyes and smelled of a strong odor of intoxicants," documents said. His speech was slurred, and he allegedly admitted to drinking beer.
Foster reported that Castilleja "had to be extricated from the vehicle by rescue (workers)." He also was treated at the Sunnyside hospital before being booked into the Benton County jail.
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