Family mourns ‘bright and loving soul’ killed in crash with WSP trooper in Richland

A family is left grieving after a 20-year forklift operator was killed in a crash last weekend with a Washington State Patrol trooper.

Jhoser E. Vega Sanchez was described as cheerful and a tremendous help to his family and friends, according to a post by his aunt on Einan’s at Hillcrest Funeral Home.

“He was a bright and loving soul who brought joy to everyone around him and his absence has left a void that we cannot begin to describe,” his mother Yollmar Sanchez Barbosa said on the GoFundMe site.

His friend, Ricardo Loeza, described Vega Sanchez as an “incredible person,” who was well-liked by his teachers at Pasco High School. He loved working out and pushing others to be their best.

“He was very outgoing and social, always willing to start a conversation even if it was the first time he met you,” Loeza told the Tri-City Herald. “(He) would always have something to talk about.”

Vega Sanchez dreamed of owning his own house and becoming a mechanic.

He worked hard, picking up extra shifts to try to achieve his goals. His outgoing nature extended to helping other people out as well, Loeza said.

“He was the one that helped me when I was learning how to drive,” he said. “He helped me with any problem that my car had. All I had to do was give him a call and he would be at my house helping me with it.”

“It’s heartbreaking that his life was cut short, but we want people to remember him for the amazing person he was.”

Horn Rapids crash

Vega Sanchez was riding a motorcycle east on Highway 240 near Horn Rapids last Saturday evening when he was hit by an off-duty Washington State Patrol Trooper Sarah Clasen.

Richland police Officer Steve Heid investigated the crash and said Clasen slurred her speech, gave disorganized statements and was glassy eyed. He also smelled alcohol on her breath.

She refused to participate in sobriety tests or take the portable breathalyzer. Blood was taken for testing but results have not been made public.

Vega Sanchez was taken Kadlec Regional Medical Center where he died.

He worked at LambWeston and lived in the Tri-Cities for the past seven years.

The GoFundMe fundraiser is to help cover funeral costs, Sanchez Barbosa said.

“Whether it be a donation or just sharing this campaign would help us so much,” she said. “Thank you for your kindness and generosity during this heartbreaking time.”

Donations can be made to bit.ly/JhoserSanchezGoFundMe.

Criminal charges

Clasen was initially arrested and booked into the Benton County jail on suspicion of vehicular homicide and DUI. She’s been released without bail during the investigation.

Benton County Prosecutor Eric Eisinger said the Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office has taken over the case to avoid any local conflicts of interest and will determine if charges will be filed.

As of Thursday afternoon, no charges had been filed, and Spokane prosecutors could not be reached about the case.

Clasen told investigators she was coming home after picking up a pizza from Domino’s and was making a left turn from the highway onto the Horn Rapids subdivision, court documents said. She said she saw a single light approaching on the highway and believed it was a car missing a headlight.

As she turned, she felt the collision. She told a Richland officer that the crash seemed to come out of nowhere and claimed the motorcyclist was speeding.

Heid noted the damage to Clasen’s SUV didn’t match her story. She told the investigator that she was nearly finished with the turn when it happened. But most of the damage was to the right front passenger corner of the vehicle, according to court documents.

Heid also believed Clasen had a clear view of oncoming traffic and “an attentive driver should have been able to see the motorcyclist prior to the collision,” the court document said.

Her attorney, Scott Johnson, said there isn’t proof that Clasen had been drinking. He also claimed Sanchez’s speed contributed to the crash, and that he didn’t have the endorsement needed to drive a motorcycle.

“This is an intersection that Ms. Clasen is very familiar with and she knew to look to the side to gauge to make the turn,” Johnson argued at a bail hearing. “And had that motorcycle not been speeding that turn could have been, and would have been successfully executed.”

Richland police Commander Damon Jansen said investigators don’t believe Sanchez was speeding.

This story was originally published March 6, 2025 at 12:47 PM.