2005 Crash That Killed 3 Near Marysville Results In $538 Ticket

MARYSVILLE - A driver blamed for a crash that claimed the lives of a couple and their adopted son has been issued a $538 traffic ticket, disappointing relatives who believe the offense was more serious.

On Thursday, nearly a year after the death of Darrell Knapp, 41, his wife Sandra, 42, and their adopted son Noah, 7, William M. Murphy, 62, of Olympia, was charged with second-degree negligent driving.

Marla Ringen, whose son is married to an older daughter of the Knapps, told The Herald of Everett the family is relieved that the investigation is over but dissatisfied with the outcome.

"Three people lost their lives and he gets cited with an infraction," Ringen said. "We're not surprised. Disappointed, yes."

Murphy was driving at least 65 mph and as fast as 76 mph in a 60-mph zone on Interstate 5 near Marysville last May 30 when his pickup and the 37-foot trailer he was towing southbound careened across the median and crashed into the Knapps' Ford Taurus and three other vehicles in the northbound lanes.

According to the State Patrol's investigation report, Murphy told troopers he thought he was going 55 and veered to the left to try to avoid a collision when a car darted in front of him.

Murphy was using the left lane illegally in an oversize vehicle, and witnesses told investigators he was accelerating to pass slower vehicles before losing control upon running into traffic congestion, troopers wrote.

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May 30, 2005 -- Earlier Story From KOMOtv.com