A Chelan County judge has ordered a retrial in the 2022 vehicular homicide case that followed a deadly crash on U.S. Highway 2 west of Coles Corner, putting a high-profile Leavenworth-area case back in front of a future jury.
The order, issued April 21, 2026, means 52-year-old Phlym Anthony Gayan of San Jose will again face a jury over allegations that he fatally struck motorcyclist Shane R. Walsh, 40, while attempting to pass westbound traffic in August 2022. The case now returns to Chelan County Superior Court for a full do-over in front of a new panel of jurors.
As reported by NCW Life, the retrial order follows months of pretrial motions and evidence fights in the long-running case.
What happened on Highway 2
Local reporting and Washington State Patrol accounts say the collision happened in August 2022 near Coles Corner, when Gayan's vehicle moved to pass other cars and hit an oncoming motorcycle. Walsh was pronounced dead at the scene. Two passengers from Gayan's car were treated at Cascade Medical Center, while Gayan was not seriously hurt, according to KPQ.
Court docket and charges
Court calendars posted by the Chelan County Superior Court list the case as 22-1-00325-04, with a single charge of vehicular homicide. Public documents name Brandon Redal as defense counsel.
The county's trial-lineup pages show prosecutors have kept the case active through multiple pretrial settings while both sides wrangled over what the jury will be allowed to hear.
Earlier rulings that shaped the case
Pretrial decisions have already reshaped the evidence. NCW Life reported that a November 2025 ruling suppressed certain statements Gayan made to troopers. Lawyers on both sides then spent subsequent hearings arguing over the scope and impact of that suppression.
Those disputes over what comes in and what stays out appear to be at the heart of the judge's decision to order a new trial rather than leave the earlier rulings and proceedings as they were.
Legal note
Under Washington law, vehicular homicide is defined in RCW 46.61.520. The statute allows prosecutors to file the charge when a death results from driving while under the influence, driving in a reckless manner, or driving with disregard for the safety of others. It is a serious felony offense with significant prison exposure. For the full statutory language, see RCW 46.61.520.
As of now, Chelan County court calendars do not list a new trial date for Gayan. The case remains on the county's criminal docket while the attorneys keep working through pretrial issues. This article will be updated when the court posts a new hearing or trial date or if prosecutors file additional documents that move the case forward.
