Argument in van may have caused death of woman, dog
by Multiple Authors on Sep. 21, 2007, under Local, SpecialJulia Sunderlin was going to become a “glam-mother.”
The 50-year-old woman never got the chance.
She and her dog died Thursday when they were struck by a minivan that that threw Sunderlin 30 feet into a utility pole, a Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman said.
The driver, Kenneth Marlette, 37, and passenger Audrey Klosterman, 26, failed sobriety tests and were arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder, said Deputy Dawn Hanke.
Sunderlin was a medical transcriptionist for University Medical Center and her supervisor at University Medical Center, Lee Wristen, said she loved her dog, Gertie, who died at the scene.
“That dog just spoke to her,” Wristen said.
And while she soon was to become a grandmother, “She didn’t want to be called ‘grandmother.’ She wanted to be called ‘glam-mother,’ ” Wristen said. “She always said if Keith Richards could be a rock ‘n’ roller at his age, so could she.”
Sunderlin was walking Gertie south along North Sabino Canyon Road about half a mile south of East Sunrise Drive and well away from the roadway when she was hit about 8:20 a.m.
Walking Gertie “was part of her daily routine” Wristen said.
Marlette and Klosterman were arguing in the vehicle, and several time she grabbed for the steering wheel, according to accounts given to the Pima County Sheriff’s Deparment, said Lt. Karl Woolridge of special operations division.
“When she grabbed the wheel, there is case law that supports that she was taking control of the vehicle,” Woolridge said, explaining why both were booked on the murder charges.
He said Marlette was in control of parts of the car and Klosterman had the steering wheel.
“They’re both under control,” Woolridge said. “It’s definitely a unique situation. (Sunderlin) was so far off the road.”
Sunderlin was pronounced dead on arrival at UMC, Hanke said. Gertie, a small, gray sheepdog, was found dead at the scene.
Sunderlin worked for UMC for 11 years, Wristen said, adding, “She was one of the best we’ve ever had. She could produce double the work of the average transcriptionist in a fraction of the time.”
Sunderlin served four years in the Army and was a Diamondbacks and Rolling Stones fan, Wristen said.
Blood alcohol levels for Marlette and Klosterman were not available Thursday.
By David L. Teibel, Carli Brosseau
