TULALIP — A man could face criminal charges for a crash that killed his wife on the Tulalip Indian Reservation last year.
Investigators allege that Antonio Fletcher, 49, was speeding and had been drinking before losing control of his Nissan Altima and striking a tree.
His wife, Gina M. Fletcher, 47, died at the scene Aug. 26 along Marine Drive at Hermosa Beach Drive. Antonio Fletcher suffered a severe spinal injury in the crash and spent time in intensive care, public records show.
The speed limit in that stretch of the road was “clearly posted” at 20 mph, Snohomish County sheriff’s detectives wrote. It usually is 45 mph along that stretch, but had been reduced due to recent chip seal work involving loose gravel.
Investigators estimated the speed in the crash at between 57 and 71 mph. A blood test taken afterward reportedly showed Antonio Fletcher’s blood-alcohol level at .073, just under the legal limit.
Police allege that Antonio Fletcher visited five bars in the hours before the crash and was served at least eight drinks.
The investigation recently wrapped up and was forward to prosecutors for review. Detectives recommended a charge of vehicular homicide, sheriff’s spokeswoman Shari Ireton said.
Gina Fletcher originally was from Kansas. Court records list her address in Arlington and her husband’s address in Orting. The Nissan was registered out of Oklahoma, which created initial confusion regarding the couple’s city of residence.
They married in 2009, according to her obituary. Gina Fletcher was a mother and grandmother who loved riding horses, reading books and spending time with friends, family and animals.
After the crash, her family sought donations to help with Antonio Fletcher’s care.
The death was one of two fatalities reported on Marine Drive last August. Cody Dunn, 25, died Aug. 28 after crossing the center lane. Investigators alleged he was under the influence of a controlled substance.
In the early 2000s, Tulalip Police made Marine Drive the focus of a campaign against speeding and drunken driving. The death rate fell on what was once considered one of the most dangerous roads in Snohomish County.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.
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