THURSTON COUNTY, Wash. — A Rainier man has been arrested for vehicular homicide and driving under the influence after a 17-year-old female passenger was killed in a collision back in March, the Thurston County Sheriff's Office (TCSO) said Wednesday.
Isaiah Scott Harris-Cook, 18, was charged Wednesday with vehicular homicide - under the influence, vehicular assault - under the influence, driving under the influence and minor driving after consumption.
Harris-Cook had a preliminary hearing June 16 and was released on his personal recognizance with conditions. His arraignment is scheduled for June 27.
On March 4, authorities responded to a fatal two-car collision on Rainier Road Southeast. The TCSO investigation revealed that Harris-Cook's vehicle lost control as it approached a curve and veered into the oncoming lane. His vehicle was struck on the passenger side by another vehicle driven by a 24-year-old woman.
The 17-year-old girl, identified by friends and family as Jessie Uch, was seated on the passenger side of the causing vehicle and was declared dead at the scene.
Harris-Cook was eventually transported to Harborview Medical Center with serious injuries, while the driver of the other vehicle was taken to Providence St. Peter Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Harris-Cook told deputies he was driving the speed limit, which he estimated was 50 miles per hour. However, the posted advisory speed for the corner where the crash happened is 30 mph, according to charging documents.
Harris Cook was found to have had 4.7 ng/mL of THC in his blood at the time of the collision in a lab analysis. Alcohol was suspected to be involved in the crash based on witness statements, but TCSO says no alcohol was detected in the man's blood. In a conversation with a detective, Harris-Cook denied smoking marijuana the day of the crash but said he had smoked the day prior.
Uch, who Harris-Cook told police was his girlfriend, was a student at Rainier High School. Several of her close friends told KING 5 in March about the fun-loving life she lived.
“Anytime anybody needed help, she was like, 'I’ve got you,' and she had a sassy attitude," said Alisha Adamski.
“She was a very talented cheerleader, very talented,” said Uch’s cheer coach, Mariah Frost.
She won prestigious awards and was a leader for the squad.
Uch was planning to attend college with her best friends. Gabrielle Green said the girls were planning to be dormmates and had already started buying stuff together.
“She was going to major in business, and she was going to try out for the Eastern Washington cheerleading team,” said Green.
“I was so sure she was going to make it," said Frost. "She was so talented and so excited. I know there was a time not that long ago where she wasn’t even sure she was going to go to college. So to see her this excited about it, I’m glad I had that chance.”