Eight People Injured in Marijuana DUI Crash in WA State

A woman from Granite Falls, Washington faces serious charges related to marijuana DUI after she caused a crash that injured eight people, including children.

Heather Marie Lee, 26, allegedly told officers that she had “smoked a bowl” earlier that day, and troopers reported finding a marijuana pipe in her car. She and several other people were injured in the crash, and were taken to the hospital for treatment. Lee has also been booked into Snohomish County Jail on multiple charges of vehicular assault related to the marijuana DUI.

Blood test results are still pending. However, marijuana can remain in the blood stream for up to 6 weeks.

Lee’s children, ages 5 and 1 years old respectively, were not injured in the marijuana DUI crash, but Lee herself appeared at her bond hearing in a wheelchair with a broken foot. The driver of the other vehicle, as well as the five children in her car, were all injured in the crash. Reportedly, the victims suffered everything from broken bones to crushed skulls to internal injuries; all are expected to recover.

According to State Patrol, Lee was driving down Highway 2 around 6:20 PM on Monday, June 2nd. She turned around to tend to her children, who were in the back seat of her car, and when she looked back at the road, she was unable to stop for two vehicles in front of her that had hit their brakes. Her Dodge Durango struck the two cars, then skidded into oncoming traffic where the vehicle hit another car head-on. A fifth car in the oncoming lane drove into a ditch to avoid hitting the other cars.

Lee already has a history of poor driving, including driving with a suspended license, and driving without insurance. This is her first marijuana DUI incident.

Lee’s mother, Jackie Foland, said that she is grateful her daughter is alive, and is devastated about the marijuana DUI accident.

“I care about those other people,” said Foland. “Those poor boys, oh my God.  I’m so sorry for that. I just can’t imagine what that mother is going through… I can’t imagine.”

She said that her daughter suffers PTSD from a violent assault, and marijuana is the only thing that has helped her symptoms.

“Every kind of medicine they ever tried to put her on messed her up. And marijuana’s the only thing that helps her,” said Foland.

The Strom Law Firm Can Help with Marijuana DUI, or DUID, Charges

Although South Carolina legislators recently legalized one form of medical marijuana, marijuana use for any other reason is illegal, and a DUID or marijuana DUI can have very serious charges. The penalties for a conviction of driving under the influence of drugs are identical to the consequences of a DUI conviction in South Carolina. If you are pulled for driving under the influence of prescription drugs or medication, you may be asked to submit to a screening test in which your urine is screened for the presence of drugs.

If you face DUI charges, whether it is your first charge, or felony DUI, you may feel alone and afraid. Being charged with driving under the influence of illegal drugs does not automatically mean that you are guilty or that the prosecution does not have to prove its case. The attorneys at the Strom Law Firm have helped people facing DUI charges since 1996. We offer free, confidential consultations. Contact us for help today. 803.252.4800