23-year-old Kenyan Nurse Candy Soita is facing two counts of vehicular homicide and one count of vehicular assault after she was involved in a wrong-way road crash in Washington state, United States (US).
Soita is reported to have been driving a Ford Edge SUV while drunk when the accident occurred, claiming the lives of two soldiers stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state on Sunday June 2.
According to the Washington State Patrol, the soldiers who were identified as Spc. Charles T. Fairbairn, 29 years, and Spc. Wendell T. Cerio, 22 years, died in the crash.
However, a third soldier in the car sustained injuries and was rushed to a hospital but has since been released.
Soita was a nursing student at Tacoma Community College and was working as a certified Nursing Assistant at Share and Care Staffing LLC.
“We are saddened to learn that two 7th Infantry Division soldiers passed following an off-post vehicle accident the morning of June 2.
“Our thoughts are with the families and friends of these soldiers during this difficult time. This incident remains under investigation,” Washington State Patrol stated.
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One Year Old Daughter of Kenyan Driver Survives Accident
Soita was travelling with her one-year-old daughter and another passenger when the accident occurred.
According to the investigators, the 23-year-old was driving on the wrong side when she crashed into the Chrysler head on.
Further, officers stated that she was taken to Tacoma General hospital following incident, while her daughter who sustained a fractured hand was taken to Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital.
A trooper who took Soita to hospital reported that her breath was smelling of alcohol and her eyes were bloodshot and watery.
Soita voluntarily provided a Preliminary Breath Test sample of 0.097 four hours after the crash, which was above the limit.
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Details of Crash Revealed During Arraignment
Cerio, one of the soldiers, was found lying on the right side of the roadway. He was bleeding and unresponsive. Lifesaving measures were attempted, but he was dead at the scene.
The 22-year-old man who was a surviving passenger in the Chrysler was visually distraught. Moreover, he told the trooper that he and Cerio were sleeping in the backseat.
During her arraignment on Wednesday, June 5, at the Pierce County Superior Court a plea of not guilty was entered on behalf of Soita.
According to court records, the Court Commissioner Barbara McInvaille set her bail at Ksh64,500,000 ($500,000).
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