Renton man, 35, charged with vehicular homicide in pedestrian’s death

A 35-year-old Renton man has been charged with vehicular homicide in the death of a Las Vegas man who was killed at about 8:40 p.m. Jan. 17 while walking across Houser Way North.

A 35-year-old Renton man has been charged with vehicular homicide in the death of a Las Vegas man who was killed at about 8:40 p.m. Jan. 17 while walking across Houser Way North.

Arraignment for Shaun Alan Meadows is Feb. 4 at the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent.

Meadows was arrested at the scene and booked into the King County Jail. He posted $100,000 bail early on Jan. 20.

The pedestrian, Ley-Eric D. Sanford, 42, died of blunt-force injury to his head and trunk, according to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office. His death was ruled an accident.

Sanford was crossing Houser Way near Liberty Park several yards away from a marked crosswalk, according to charging documents. A slight rain was falling. The speed limit is 25 mph.

Meadows was driving his 2007 Chevrolet Silverado northbound on Houser Way after celebrating at a local tavern with a buddy, who had survived an avalanche, according to charging documents. The friend was in the passenger seat.

Just north of the Cedar River Bridge, the Silverado struck Sanford, who was knocked 75 to 80 feet down the road, according to documents. Meadows didn’t brake or take evasive measures, according to documents.

Renton traffic investigators estimated the truck was traveling at least 40 mph, according to prosecutors. It came to a stop about 212 to 214 feet north of where Sanford was struck.

Renton officers performed CPR on Sanford, who was unresponsive, until medics arrived. Officers were able to identify him through his fingerprints.

Without prompting, Meadows told investigators at the scene that Sanford “jumped in front of me,” which the friend corroborated. Meadows was visibly upset, bent over at the waist and was slightly crying.

Meadows sat down in an officer’s patrol car. Officers noticed the smell of intoxicants, especially when he spoke. In plain view in the vehicle’s front seat was a pipe used to smoke marijuana, according to the documents.

The friend told officers that just minutes before they had left a bar on Williams Avenue.

Although Sanford wasn’t in a crosswalk when he was hit, there was probable cause that the driver was driving under the influence, according to the documents. He has convictions for driving under the influence, according to prosecutors.