Nineteen-year-old Anahi Rose Mendoza was spending the Fourth of July in Sedro-Woolley when a speeding car hit her, then took off. She did not survive. Police say the driver was caught a short time later, but as her family heard prosecutors lay out the suspect’s lengthy record, their grief hardened into anger over what they describe as a systemic failure. Friends and classmates say the loss has left the small community deeply shaken.
How the crash unfolded
Just after 2 p.m. on July 4, Sedro-Woolley officers were called to a collision at Moore Street, which is part of State Route 20, and Township Street. Witnesses told police a car veered off the roadway, struck Mendoza, then sped west on SR 20 without stopping. Bystanders followed and helped officers track the vehicle, and police later located the suspect near SR 20 and Ball Street.
Officers said the driver showed signs of impairment and was booked into Skagit County Jail. Emergency responders tried to save Mendoza’s life at the scene, but she died from her injuries, according to Cascadia Daily News.
Prosecutors and the court
At a Monday court hearing, prosecutors told the judge the suspect has what they described as a sprawling criminal history, and the court set bail at $750,000. The defendant faces felony charges that include vehicular homicide and hit-and-run. Prosecutors also said the suspect has 17 felony convictions in Washington dating back to 1989.
In a raw and emotional statement to the court, Mendoza’s aunt Jennifer Neustedt tried to explain the depth of the family’s loss. “We just are broken, we’re broken. She was her mother’s rock, she was her hero,” Neustedt said, as reported by FOX 13 Seattle.
Remembering Anahi
Mendoza’s family and friends describe her as a recent 2025 graduate of Squalicum High School who was looking ahead to her next chapter at Bellingham Technical College. In the days before the crash, she had been selling fireworks, trying to stash away enough money for what relatives called her first big trip.
Her family launched an online fundraiser to help cover funeral costs and immediate expenses, and hundreds of donations came in within days as word spread. The fundraiser page also shares more about her plans and the family’s loss, according to GoFundMe.
Legal next steps
Because the defendant waived a speedy arraignment, the next hearing is scheduled for July 16. At that appearance, prosecutors are expected to formally outline the charges.
Under Washington law, vehicular homicide is prosecuted under RCW 46.61.520 as a class A felony. The statute allows additional sentencing time in certain DUI-related cases, which can increase a prison term when there are qualifying prior offenses. Attorneys and neighbors say they will be watching the July hearing closely to see how prosecutors choose to proceed.
Why the family is calling for change
Mendoza’s relatives say the case highlights what they describe as a “catch-and-release” problem, where people with long criminal records still end up back on the road. They are urging lawmakers and prosecutors to push for tougher consequences and stronger protections.
Their calls come as impaired driver-involved deaths have risen across Washington in recent years. Reporting that summarized Washington Traffic Safety Commission data found that impaired driver-involved fatalities climbed sharply between 2019 and 2023, according to The Olympian. Community leaders and neighbors in Sedro-Woolley say they plan to keep a close eye on the July 16 hearing as Mendoza’s family presses for answers and accountability.
