Prosecutor: Driver was stoned in fatal Bellevue crash
Dec 20, 2013, 3:35 PM | Updated: Dec 21, 2013, 6:55 pm
A Bellevue man police say was high on marijuana faces a vehicular homicide charge for turning in front of a motorcycle rider and killing him in a collision Oct. 4.
Police say Blake Gaston, 23, was riding his motorcycle on NE 10th Street when Caleb Floyd made a left turn in front of him. The two vehicles collided and Gaston died at the scene from massive head trauma.
The subsequent investigation determined Gaston was following all traffic laws, and Floyd showed signs of impairment. A blood test revealed he had nearly double the amount of marijuana in his system as permitted under state law.
“The victim’s family is without their love one this holiday due to an impaired driver. While the recreational use of marijuana is legal, it is still a drug and can impair your ability to drive. It may be legal to consume it, but it is illegal to drive under the influence of marijuana,” Bellevue Police Traffic Lieutenant Marcia Harnden said.
Floyd could face between 78 to 102 months in prison if convicted. He’ll be arraigned on Jan. 2 in King County Superior Court.
