American fugitive begins extradition fight

An American fugitive wanted in connection with a high speed car crash in Washington State which left three students dead is to begin his fight against extradition today.

Frederick Russell will appear at the High Court to challenge moves by the Attorney General to have him handed over to the US authorities to stand trial for the collision.

The 27-year-old, who spent four years on the run, was charged in 2001 with vehicular homicide but disappeared before the case came to court.

With a trial looming, Russell fled to Canada and travelled across Europe for several months before settling in Ireland. He was arrested by gardai while working as a security guard at a city centre store last year.

It is understood the US Marshals’ Service received a tip-off that he was living and working in the Dublin area after his name was put on the 15 most wanted list.

If extradited he could face trial for causing death by dangerous driving in connection with a car crash on the Moscow-Pullman highway.

Three college students died in the accident Brandon Clements, 22, of Wapato, 21-year-old Stacey Morrow, of Milton and Ryan Sorenson, 21 of Westwood. Three other passengers in the same car were seriously injured.