A 19-year-old driver has been charged with vehicular homicide and vehicular assault following a fatal crash in Maple Valley, on October 21.
The crash, which claimed the life of a 21-month-old toddler and left his mother with severe injuries, occurred when the driver, identified as Alexis Andaluz Lozano, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while under the influence of marijuana.
According to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Lozano was driving westbound on State Route 18 when he lost control of his car in wet and rainy conditions.
His vehicle, a blue Cadillac, crossed the grassy median and spun into the eastbound lanes, where it collided head-on with a black Hyundai driven by 27-year-old Carmen Pauza.
Pauza was traveling with her young son, Altyn Stevens, on their way to pick up her daughter from daycare.
Pauza’s sister, Andrea, has created a verified GoFundMe to help with funeral costs, medical expenses, rent, and lost wages.
The impact of the collision, which occurred at high speeds, was devastating.
Witnesses at the scene reported that the Cadillac hydroplaned before striking the Hyundai.
The toddler suffered catastrophic injuries and died at the scene, despite efforts by first responders to save him.
“Any death is one too many, but as troopers... My career of 33 years, going to scenes where there’s children, whether you have children or not, pulls at your heartstrings a little more,” said Trooper Johnson with the Washington State Patrol.
Pauza, who was trapped inside her vehicle, sustained multiple serious injuries, including fractures to her arm, leg, and ribs.
According to Pauza’s sister, Pauza was pinned inside her car, but was still able to call the father of her children, who rushed to the scene.
She was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center for treatment.
Court documents indicate that Lozano was found sitting in his vehicle with an unbuckled seatbelt and a container of marijuana under his leg.
Troopers reported that the driver appeared disoriented and lethargic, raising suspicions of impairment.
When questioned about the crash, Lozano reportedly expressed confusion, asking officers, “What happened?” and “What crash?”
According to the charging documents, a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) was called to the scene and observed that Lozano exhibited several signs of marijuana impairment, including bloodshot eyes and an inability to complete standard sobriety tests.
In the vehicle, officers discovered several pre-rolled marijuana joints and other paraphernalia.
Although Lozano denied using marijuana before the crash, he was arrested at the scene on suspicion of driving under the influence and vehicular homicide.
Trooper Rick Johnson says impaired driving is a relentless danger on our roads, “Someone potentially made the choice to get behind the wheel after being impaired. That’s the sad part of this horrible crash,” he said. “It’s 3 p.m. on a Monday afternoon. There’s no time of the day that we haven’t come across an impaired driver. It’s 7 days a week.”
A search warrant was obtained to test his blood for drugs, and those results are pending.
Pauza, still recovering from her injuries, told investigators that she saw the other vehicle speeding toward her but was unable to avoid the collision.
“He flew sideways into my lane, and I hit him head-on,” she recalled.
Pauza remains hospitalized and is facing a long recovery.
Prosecutors have requested that bail be set at $150,000, along with additional conditions, including prohibiting Lozano from using drugs or entering any establishments where marijuana is sold.
They also asked the court to restrict his driving privileges, barring him from driving without a valid license and insurance.
Prosecutors noted that Lozano has no known criminal history but was previously cited for negligent driving in 2023.