Crash involving classmates kills teen on snowmobile

Crash involving classmates kills teen on snowmobile

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Story Published: Dec 31, 2006 at 4:11 PM PDT

Story Updated: Jan 1, 2007 at 10:34 AM PDT

By Eric Schudiske

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KING COUNTY - A young man was killed while riding a snowmobile, when a classmate driving a pickup crashed into him just before 1:00 a.m. Saturday morning in the 12800 block of Kelly Road east of Duvall.

King County Sheriff's deputies said Kyle Hamilton, 18, was riding a snowmobile with a friend when the pickup rammed into them. Hamilton died at the scene and the second passenger was airlifted to the hospital. He is now listed in satisfactory condition.

Deputies arrested the driver of the pickup on suspicion of vehicular homicide. They say alcohol may have been involved.

Justin Jalakas, a friend of the boys, says Hamilton and a friend were riding the snowmobile just after midnight as another friend followed closely behind in a pickup truck.

Jalakas says the crash happened after the snowmobile died and its lights went out, making its two passengers invisible to the driver of the pickup.

"It quit, in the middle of a straight stretch. I mean the lights go out, it's dark out, foggy road and icy. Kid came around with the truck. No time to stop. What do you do?" he said. "It's just an unfortunate act, I mean we all do it growing up, snowmobiling down the road."

Friends left flowers at the site of the fatal accident in Hamilton's memory.

"Great kid, great heart, always doing whatever it took to help someone out," Jalakas said.

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