In a tragic incident over the weekend, a Washington State Patrol trooper lost his life after a driver crashed into his parked patrol vehicle on Interstate 5 near Seattle. The suspect, Raul Benitez Santana, has now been charged with vehicular homicide, according to the Snohomish County Prosecutor's Office.

The victim, Trooper Christopher M. Gadd, aged 27, was on duty around 3 a.m. on Saturday when the collision occurred in Marysville, approximately 30 miles north of Seattle. Authorities stated that Gadd's parked patrol vehicle was struck by Santana's car on the side of the highway.

Raul Benitez Santana, a 33-year-old Mexican citizen who entered the United States illegally, was apprehended at the scene and taken into custody by the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office. Santana's immigration status has raised concerns, particularly in the current national discourse on immigration policies.

It has been revealed that Santana had a previous encounter with ICE personnel in October 2013 when he was arrested on suspicion of driving with a suspended license in Burien, Washington. Santana's immigration detainer has since been placed by immigration officials in Seattle, requesting local law enforcement to keep him in custody until he can be picked up by ICE.

The suspect made his appearance in court on Monday and is currently being held at the Snohomish County Jail on a $1 million bond. CNN has been unable to identify Santana's attorney, and it remains unclear if the Snohomish County Public Defender Association is representing him.

Trooper Christopher Gadd's tragic death has deeply saddened the whole Washington State Patrol. With only two-and-a-half years of service, Gadd leaves behind his wife, Cammryn, and their daughter, Kaelyn. His father, WSP Trooper David Gadd, his mother, Gillian, and his sister, Jacqueline, who is currently serving as a trooper with the Texas Department of Public Safety, also mourn his loss.

State Patrol Chief John R. Batiste expressed the agency's "profound sorrow" to Gadd's family, highlighting the risks associated with public safety service. The loss of Trooper Gadd marks the 33rd duty-related death in the Washington State Patrol's 103-year history.

Despite the heartbreak, Batiste pledged to honor Gadd's memory by continuing to serve and stated that the entire Washington State Patrol community is devastated by the loss. The investigation into the crash and subsequent legal proceedings against Raul Benitez Santana will now take place as authorities seek justice for Trooper Gadd's untimely death.