Washougal vehicular homicide case dismissed after accused defendant’s deathUpdated 10 mins ago

A Clark County Superior Court judge has dismissed the vehicular homicide case
against
an 86-year-old man who hit two people with his car, killing one, in Washougal after the defendant died, court records show.

Jesse Shehan of Washougal died May 28, according to court filings that cite the Washington State Department of Health. On June 11, Judge Suzan Clark ordered his case be dismissed with prejudice, meaning it cannot be filed again, according to court records.

On Dec. 22, 2024, Tamera Strunk told Washougal police she and Theadore Jones saw Shehan struggling to park near the Big Foot Inn, 105 Pendleton Way, and went to help him, according to court records.

Strunk told police Jones stood in front of Shehan’s Subaru Legacy to guide him, and when Shehan pulled forward, he struck a parked car and then Jones, pulling him under the chassis and dragging him 30 to 45 feet, according to court records.

When police responded, they found Jones pinned under the Subaru with Shehan still sitting behind the wheel. Strunk had been struck as well and flung off the road onto the sidewalk, according to court records.

Jones was taken to a local hospital but died from his injuries.

Court filings state Shehan had dementia and told police he was taking a number of medications for various medical issues, including depressants and opioids, according to court records.

Pending his trial, Shehan was on court-ordered supervised released with some of that time on electronic home confinement.