Deadly night on area roads claims 3 lives
KENT, Wash. -- Three people were killed overnight in separate incidents on roads in the Puget Sound area.
In Kent, a 33-year-old motorcyclist was killed when he was hit by a van near the intersection of South 212th Street and 84th Avenue South.
Sgt. Jarod Kasner said it's not clear exactly what happened, but investigators believe the man driving the van may have been under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.
Several people witnessed the crash and provided statements to police, Kasner said.
In Federal Way, a man was killed when he lost control of the car he was driving and crashed into a tree.
Police spokeswoman Cathy Schrock said the man was speeding in the 900 block of SW Campus Drive when the car flipped over just after midnight.
No one else was in the car and no other vehicles were hit.
And in Snohomish County, state troopers are investigating the death of a woman who got out of her car on Interstate 5 north of Arlington and was fatally stuck by a car.
Trooper Keith Leary said the 23-year-old Tulalip woman had been involved in a crash near the intersection of 236th Street and 19th Ave. at about 2:30 a.m.
No one was injured in that crash, but the woman drove away from the scene and got onto I-5. She stopped near the Stillaguamish River and was walking along the freeway when she was hit.
She died at the scene and investigators are trying to determine why she got out of her minivan.
None of the names of the people who were killed has been released.
In Kent, a 33-year-old motorcyclist was killed when he was hit by a van near the intersection of South 212th Street and 84th Avenue South.
Sgt. Jarod Kasner said it's not clear exactly what happened, but investigators believe the man driving the van may have been under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.
Several people witnessed the crash and provided statements to police, Kasner said.
In Federal Way, a man was killed when he lost control of the car he was driving and crashed into a tree.
Police spokeswoman Cathy Schrock said the man was speeding in the 900 block of SW Campus Drive when the car flipped over just after midnight.
No one else was in the car and no other vehicles were hit.
And in Snohomish County, state troopers are investigating the death of a woman who got out of her car on Interstate 5 north of Arlington and was fatally stuck by a car.
Trooper Keith Leary said the 23-year-old Tulalip woman had been involved in a crash near the intersection of 236th Street and 19th Ave. at about 2:30 a.m.
No one was injured in that crash, but the woman drove away from the scene and got onto I-5. She stopped near the Stillaguamish River and was walking along the freeway when she was hit.
She died at the scene and investigators are trying to determine why she got out of her minivan.
None of the names of the people who were killed has been released.
Circumstance (being in the wrong place at the wrong time) has role in these highway deaths, as does bad luck. But the biggest factor in these deaths was that someone made a poor choice. Chances are that none of the three were out looking to die, it just happened that way. Sorry that you all left us so early in life. Sadly the deaths of these three individuals will have little, if any effect on future highway deaths. The State's DUI and DWI Laws are ineffective, and too few intoxicated drivers are caught and cited for either offense. People that drink and drive (and you know who you are) need to take responsibility for their alcohol consumption and motor vehicle operation and stop mixing the two together. And the people serving them the alcohol have a shared responsibility to keep those that are too intoxicated to drive safely, out of the drivers seat.
Why do so many people feel like they are above the law? Don't drive drunk. Don't speed. And although it's not a law, this last one is possibly the most important: use common sense! I am one of the few teenagers I know who has put off getting my license. Why? Because unlike most people my age, I watch the news and I see stories like this every day. These rules are put in place for a reason. Please, drive safe and drive smart, if not for your sake, then for the sake of others.
Smart girl. You sound like a very responsible young lady. Your parents must be proud! Keep up the good work!
Also, my thoughts go out to the friends and family of all the victims. Whether they were at fault or not doesn't make their death any less tragic and I'm ashamed to see people on here making jokes.
geuss we had better put a ban on cars and roads look at the lives lost because of them
MNF is another way for mother nature to weed the herd...
 @Windowseat Somebody just won the award for the Dumbest Comment Of The Week.
 @Zoso  @Windowseat Oh, but the week is yet young!
 @Windowseat If that's true why are you still here?
@Windowseat Shut up, that was a stupid comment. There is always one d-bag that has to come in and start taking about darwin or something related, or politics in every story.
At least none of the three took anyone else with them. Even with the lady getting struck on I-5, she'd have likely been fine if she had done what she was supposed to do at accident time. Three suicides on the public dime, a tree, and two people's vehicles. Could have been a lot worse.
 @FreeCoffeeNow! How is this an accident on the public dime? He was my family and he was a tax payer, war vet, college educated, and full time worker homeowner and FATHER!! Never took a dime from the government or anyone for that matter. He was amazing and your comments are ignorant. This could not have been worse!! The van driver was drunk!! You should be ashamed that you are so stupid and have no life accept to comment on things that don't concern you.
 @FreeCoffeeNow! The man on the motorcycle was a kind young man who was responsibly driving home on his motorcycle after work. Now his family is devastated. Your comment is unappreciated.
 @FreeCoffeeNow! The man who was killed by the van was an innocent driver, so I don't know where you got that they didn't take any one with them. The person who was drunk driving walked away from that accident.Â
As SunWorshipper said, most likely related to Monday Night Football and drinking. Tragic.
So sorry for all these deaths; RIP! Prayers to their families and friends.
RIP rider. Drove pass this on my way into work this morning. I knew it was bad when I saw an ambulance loading a gurney with a black bag on it.
I'm not sure what happens around here but after September, the loony toons must come out from their cave - they don't know how to drive, they don't know how to get around in a store, they don't know how to be around people, they don't know how to park. Where they heck have they been living for 3 or 4 months? and why don't they go back there?
@Elaine2 You must be new to the area, september has nothing to do with anything. That was pretty nice of you to refer to them as loony-toons; especially in fatality related accidents.
@northwestsurfer Not new, been in this area since 1991 - there is a definite spike in traffic and more stupidity after school starts. Yes, I wanted to use a very much stronger term but couldn't think of one 'tame' enough to not be deleted.
northwestsurfer - I was referring to the drivers as looney toons not the victims. :P
@Elaine2 I was being sarcastic; I didnt think referring to people who lost their lives in traffic accidents as looney toons was very appropriate
@Elaine2 The "loony toons" are those who believe they have the right to drive while drunk or high on drugs (prescribed or illegal). Every time my son leaves the house, I remind him that a high percentage of those on the road with him are drunk, high, angry, or just plain incompetent.
 @Elaine2 You make no sense. People drive badly year round.
@two loons True but it seems to spike after September.
And the rainy season hasn't even started yet.
 @Magic 8 Ball No, but Monday Night Football has begun. People were out late celebrating, apparently.
 @SunWorshipper  @Magic 8 Ball Nothin to celebrate!