Illegal migrant from Mexico is arrested for crashing his vehicle into a Washington state trooper while 'intoxicated' killing the 27-year-old cop and dad

An illegal migrant from Mexico was arrested after he crashed his car into a Washington State Trooper and killed the cop. 

Trooper Christopher Gadd, 27, tragically lost his life around 3am Saturday along Interstate 5 as he patrolled the road for reckless drivers. 

Raul Benitez Santana, 33, crashed his SUV  into Gadd's patrol car as he veered into the shoulder while speeding, according to the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office. 

According to court documents obtained by FOX 13 Seattle, at the time of the deadly crash, Santana had bloodshot eyes and admitted he had smoked weed and drank two beers before driving. 

An ICE official confirmed the suspect is from Mexico and unlawfully entered the U.S. on an unknown date. He also has a lengthy criminal record in Washington. 

Gadd has been remembered as a 'promising young man' who was a loving husband to his wife Cammryn and their two-year-old daughter Kaelyn. 

Washington State Trooper Christopher Gadd, 27, died on Saturday after an illegal migrant crashed into him while he patrolled Interstate 5 for reckless drivers 

Raul Benitez Santana, 33, crashed his SUV into Gadd's patrol car as he veered into the shoulder while speeding. He had bloodshot eyes and admitted he had smoked weed and drank before driving

An ICE official confirmed the suspect is from Mexico and unlawfully entered the U.S. on an unknown date. He also has a lengthy criminal record within Washington

In May 2013, Santana was charged with driving with a suspended license and hit with a separate charge for marijuana possession. He was sentenced to 90 days in jail for that conviction. 

In October 2014, Santana was caught driving with a suspended license again and sentenced to another 90 days in jail. 

He was also charged with domestic violence assault in May 2019 in King County and was given a ticket for going more than 50pmh over the speed limit. 

The Seattle Enforcement and Removal Operations first encountered Santana in October 2013 after he was arrested for failure to appear in court for driving with a suspended license. 

On Saturday, Santana was arrested for vehicular homicide and booked into Snohomish County Jail. He is being held on $1million bail. 

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Seattle Enforcement and Removal Operations division have placed an immigration detainer on him, which allows federal officials to keep him in jail even if he posts bond pending further immigration hearings. 

Gadd has been remembered as a 'promising young man' who was a loving husband to his wife Cammryn and their two-year-old daughter Kaelyn

A patrol car was also covered with flowers in his honor and a memorial page has been created online to donate to his family

'As one of the operational directorates associated with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ERO Seattle lodges immigration detainers against noncitizens who have been arrested for criminal activity and taken into custody by state or local law enforcement,' a spokesperson for ICE told Fox News Digital. 

Santana appeared in court on Tuesday as his lawyer claimed the trooper did not have his lights on at the time of the crash and the migrant could not have seen him.

Alex Assadi, who witnessed the crash and tried to help the officer, told FOX 13 Seattle that a gray SUV passed him 'with no lights on' going 'about 100mph.' 

'I'm really, really sorry. Sorry for what happened because I have a five-year-old- I cannot imagine you know, not being there,' he said. 

A memorial outside of the state patrol's headquarters in Marysville was set up in honor of Gadd with pictures of him, and flowers as mourners stopped by to pay their respects. 

A patrol car was also covered with flowers in his honor and a memorial page has been created online to donate to his family. 

On behalf of Gadd's family, John Batiste, the Chief of Washington State Patrol, said they 'accepted the risks that comes along in serving in this profession.' 

He became a state trooper for the force in September 2021 and graduated from the 116th Trooper Basic Training Class in April 2022. Pictured: Him and his wife Cammryn

A memorial outside of the state patrol's headquarters in Marysville was set up in honor of Gadd with pictures of him, and flowers as mourners stopped by to pay their respects

He became a state trooper for the force in September 2021 and graduated from the 116th Trooper Basic Training Class in April 2022. 

'I can tell you that across the entire Washington State Patrol, every head is bowed, every knee is bent, and every heart is broken as we mourn this loss,' Batiste said. 

'To honor Chris, even in sorrow, we will go on. We will continue to serve. Because he did, we must.' 

The trooper's mother, Gillian Gadd, posted to Facebook and said: 'Dearest family and friends, thank you for your love and support.'

'We need it so much. There is peace in knowing there is an army of people praying and loving on us.'