March 3, 2025
Richland, Wash. – On the evening of March 1, 2025, an off-duty trooper was involved in a collision that resulted in a fatality in the city of Richland, WA. In the reporting that followed by local media outlets, it was reported that the Trooper Matthew D. Mason of Benton City was the causing driver of the collision. This reporting was inaccurate by that media outlet. There is no Trooper Matthew D. Mason that resides in Benton City. We do have a Trooper Matthew A. Mason that works out of our Bellevue office. Due to this similarity in names and the inaccurate reporting, Trooper Matthew A. Mason has been inaccurately identified as being involved with this incident. To be clear, Trooper Matthew A. Mason has no involvement in either tragic incident last weekend.
The off-duty trooper involved in this tragedy is Trooper Sarah Clasen. Trooper Clasen is a 14-year veteran of the State Patrol currently assigned to the Yakima field office. Trooper Clasen has been placed on administrative leave during this on-going investigation.
Richland Police Department is the primary investigating agency for this incident and is handling all further inquiries. Their point of contact is Commander Chris Mason who can be reached at 509-942-7360.
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Release sent by Sergeant Jermaine Walker, Public Information Officer