TACOMA, WA – Today Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist charged Anderson Hamilton, 48, with one count of vehicular homicide and two counts of vehicular assault for causing a severe car crash that killed one person and injured two others. The defendant will be arraigned today at 1:30 p.m. in room 270 of the County-City Building in Tacoma.

“This is another unfortunate example of why drugs and driving don’t mix,” said Prosecutor Mark Lindquist.

At midnight on March 4, 2014, the female victim and her fiancé were travelling from Puyallup to Tacoma on River Road in a minivan taxi. The defendant, who was driving his pickup in the opposite direction, crossed through the center turn lane and struck the taxi head-on. The female victim died at the scene, but her fiancé survived with minor injuries. The taxi driver was taken to the hospital and was treated for serious injuries.

In the defendant’s pockets, police found injection needles and what appeared to be marijuana. He showed signs of impairment, but refused to perform field sobriety tests for a drug recognition expert. Based on the trooper’s observations, the defendant appeared to be under the influence of drugs. His blood was drawn and toxicology results are pending.

Charges are only allegations and a person is presumed innocent unless he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.