YAKIMA, Wash. (AP) - Prosecutors in Yakima County are dropping vehicular homicide charges against a man they say ran over a toddler in 2017 while having more than the legal limit of marijuana in his system.
Prosecuting Attorney Joe Brusic said Friday that while Larry Tyacke had more than 5 nanograms of marijuana’s psychoactive ingredient in his blood, an accident reconstruction expert retained by the defense could show that he was not impaired at the time of the incident.
Brusic told the Yakima Herald-Republic that prosecutors would have had difficulty convincing a jury to convict.
The charges were dismissed without prejudice, which means that prosecutors could refile the charges if additional evidence is found.
Tyacke was driving through the parking lot at the Sunnyside Walmart on March 8, 2017, when the girl ran out in front of his vehicle and was hit.
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