State Patrol trooper hits, kills pedestrian on I-5
MOUNT VERNON, Wash. -- An on-duty Washington State Patrol trooper hit and killed a pedestrian who was crossing Interstate 5 in Mount Vernon Tuesday night.
State Patrol spokesman Trooper Keith Leary said the trooper was southbound on I-5 and hit the man near the ramp to East College Way at about 9:45.
The man was apparently attempting to walk across the highway, Leary said, calling the situation a tragic accident.
Leary said the trooper was shaken but not injured.
Troopers closed the ramp to East College Way for several hours while they collected evidence at the scene. The investigation is being handled by both the State Patrol and the Mount Vernon Police Department.
The name of the man who was killed has not been released.
"Our hearts go out to that family," Leary said.
State Patrol spokesman Trooper Keith Leary said the trooper was southbound on I-5 and hit the man near the ramp to East College Way at about 9:45.
The man was apparently attempting to walk across the highway, Leary said, calling the situation a tragic accident.
Leary said the trooper was shaken but not injured.
Troopers closed the ramp to East College Way for several hours while they collected evidence at the scene. The investigation is being handled by both the State Patrol and the Mount Vernon Police Department.
The name of the man who was killed has not been released.
"Our hearts go out to that family," Leary said.
please keep me informed of what happens . who is the blame,legally?
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Sorry!this accident anyone witnessed not nhi.neu who had information about the accident, please tell me voi.cam thanks a lot
I don't know how many times I've heard that police officers are trained to be better drivers than the rest of us. Or how they can multi-task while driving and yet they make just as many mistakes behind the wheel of a vehicle as the rest of us. So, I would like to know what distracted the officer to the point that he didn't see the pedestrain. I'm willing to bet that he was using one of the electronic devices that they are so much more adapt to use or he got excited about the prospect of showing how he is above the laws that have been put into effect for everyone's well-being. To the family who have suffered a great loss my deepest sympathies for you because as always the police will say that it was do to no fault of the officer involved. When will they have to start being held to the same laws that the rest of us are or a least have to lead by example. Once again I'm sorry for your loss.
I just want to add some more info so all of you who don't know him can be enjoyed more. He 26 years old, newly maried, expecting to see his baby, the only one to support his parents and his younger brother in school at home in rural area in vietnam...
Hey @Smashquail thanks for calling him a moron. It just shows how GENIUS you are ranting at someone you dont even have a clue about.
This pedestrian is my friend and ship mate. You all rant not to cross i-5 and freeway. But he is vietnamese, a seaman on a shore leave just trying to see your country and buy some things for himself and his family. How does he know what I-5 is or not. And he is wearing white shirt for your info. OH! and in case this all makes you feel better, he was newly married, and expecting to see his first born baby when he finishes his contract 4 months from now. Thanks to those who condoled. And for those haters out there Hope you live up to a hundred years!!!Â
 @Clint Sadiong Tugaff They don't have highways in Vietnam?
 @DarkParty He lives in a rural area. Never been there but "rural" area in a sense will mean provincial roads. And there are designated shoulders were people can actually walk at the side. He was a poor man. Borrowed money from a bank to study, and was hoping to pay it back if he gets promoted. He is also the sole supporter of his parents and siblings. Just for your info.Â
KOMO's use of "Pedestrian" is a bit peculiar. Pedestrians walk on sidewalks and in crosswalks, but there really is no such thing as a "Pedestrian" on an Interstate freeway.Â
Deepest condolences to all involved.
Here's a genius idea: Walk across I-5.
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Hope the trooper doesn't feel too bad. The only one at fault was the moron walking across the Interstate...
 @Smashquail Into each life some rain must fall - I guess you're the official downpour. Congratulations on making someone's loss even more painful.
It says he tried to walk across the highway? I think I'd have been running! It can be hard to judge how fast the cars are coming at night. Especially if he had been drinking, which, if so would sure pull the officer's fat outathe fire.
Accidents happen. Prayers to the family of all involved. Please DO NOT cross the highway at night or during the day. It is clearly dangerous and also illegal.
My sympathies to the family & friends of the deceased. And sympathies too to the officer involved ... it can't be easy to be the cause of death for another human (provided of course you have even the slightest sense of humanity.)
Funny I bet he gets NOTHING and if it was someone else they would be arrested for vehicular manslaughter.
 @vampiregoat69 I'm pretty sure if you hit someone ILLEGALLY crossing an interstate, you would not be charged with anything. A crosswalk, maybe...but not an interstate.
 @Smashquail correct! and even if a driver hits someone in a crosswalk, if it is an accident the driver likely will not be charged. However, if the driver has been drinking, even if not legally drunk,  was speeding or driving recklessly, etc, then the D.A. may bring charges, since the driver's irresponsible actions may have led to the accident.Â
You're wrong but have the right to your opinion...
 @vampiregoat69 Your post is inane and inept. I am also thoroughly disgusted by the avatar of choice to post such an ignorant despicable rant. JP loved everyone and was a treasure to us all.
You soil his name and our memory of him.
 @vampiregoat69 You're an idiot. Citizen drivers have many times hit pedestrians and been charged with nothing because they were truly accidents and there was no way for the driver to avoid the collision. Take your anti-cop sentiment somewhere else and grow up.
Its not an accident when humans are involved. It means someone screwed up. In this case both the officer and the pedestrian screwed up. @PacificNWRunner
 @Blindman Silly. This was clearly an accident. Manslaughter is causing the intentional death of another. Obviously the trooper did NOT intend to hit the man who was foolishly attempting to cross an interstate freeway at night.Â
 @Blindman The trooper did nothing wrong. This one is all on the jaywalker.
 @Blindman How did the officer screw up? It was dark, and the guy was crossing where he should not be. The officer probably couldn't even see him until it was too late. Under virtually every law in the country, in this situation, the pedestrian was entirely at fault, unless the driver was drunk or otherwise breaking the law himself.
Poorly designed freeways not made for the everyday occurrence of cars breaking down or running out of gas. Plus a cop that was obviously not paying attention. While cellphones are now illegal in private vehicles, cellphones, computers, police radios and everything else is allowed in police cars.
 @Blindman If one's car breaks down, one does NOT need to cross the freeway at night. You can sit on the side of the road and wait for help. Or stand by your car and flag down a motorist. Or a state trooper. But walking or running out into a freeway at night? Not smart at all. This is clearly not the trooper's fault.Â
 @Blindman really "obviously not paying attention."  ???  I defy you to drive on a dark stretch of highway at 65 mpg, and stop in time if someone runs in front of your car.  The victim was CROSSING a freeway in the dark. Do you have super human powers that you are the only person who could see someone on a dark freeway crossing the road where pedestrians are not allowed?  I didn't think so. That area is quite dark along the 5, and if a person ran across the road, which is common, you would not be able to stop in time. Period.  I know of a woman who was killed this year on a street, crossing without a crosswalk, who thought she could make it to the other side before getting hit, totally misjudging the traffic. The error, sadly, was made by the person walking across or running across the freeway. Period. And it's sad all the way around.Â
 @DT I have to say out of all the comments posted yours has to be my favorite...Its very sad... but so true
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 @Blindman I'm sorry, but you're making an unfair assumption about a situation that we know nothing about. We don't know if the trooper was running lights and sirens to a call, we don't know if he was distracted by something in his car, we know nothing about that yet. Plus, what person walks into traffic on Interstate 5 anyways? For all we know, this person could have been trying to end his life or something, WE JUST DON'T KNOW!!! It irks me that people are so quick to bash a LEO when you don't take all other possibilities into consideration first.
I do agree officers have a lot of distractions in their cars.
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I'm amazed when I'm at an intersection with a cop next to me and someone runs the red light, doesn't stop for the pedestrian in the crosswalk with the walk signal, etc, and the cop is so focused on his/her monitor or phone the incident doesn't get addressed.Â
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If they are driving or patrolling, they need to pay attention to their surroundings.
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However, seeing this specific incident happened on a dark night with a dark clothed person it was probably unavoidable for the trooper.
Hmmm. I guess there is a reason only the officers have a computer with internet capability in their cars and there is a law against cell phones while driving for the general public. Makes one wonder if the laws should be equal for the police also.
 @Astinious Do the police sit in their parked cars and use their computers? YES? Do they drive down the road and use the internet? NO.Â
 @Astinious You, as well as others apparently, are under this assumption based off no real information or knowledge of the situation.There is no public mention that the officer wasnt simply driving down the highway. It was dark and Im sure the person wasnt wearing anything reflective to distinguish themselves.
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A person darted across a busy highway and was hit by a car as a consequence. Its just like striking a deer or other animal that crosses a busy road or highway. The only difference is that animals do it by instinct while this person did it for convenience.
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This is a tragedy and the only one to blame is not the officer but the person who decided it was simpler to take the quicker path rather than the safe one.
Perhaps the DOT should consider installing crosswalks on the freeway ramps so that the zombies can cross safely.
Reading below, there are sure a lot of people who are critical of KOMO's reporting. But those same complainers keep on coming back... Just sayin'
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As far as the person who got hit, he was wearing dark clothing at night crossing on or near the freeway. I've had people riding bikes (without lights) wearing dark clothing and pedestrians dart out in front of me on a dark night. Not a very smart move on their part. Pedestrians can see a car's lights but the drivers cannot always see the person. It is especially worse if it's raining when visibility is even worse.
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Be safe out there!
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R.I.P. to the dead man and my sympathies to the Trooper and the families involved.Â
I feel sorry for the trooper because he is still living knowing he was somewhat responsible for the other persons death. The person that was really responsible was the fool out playing on the freeway. Railroad tracks, freeways, and jumping out of perfectly good aircraft are things one shouldn't do unless they have a death wish. It is the living that end up suffering.
 @LongBeachBum I agree with the first couple sentences wholeheartedly. A friend's wife hit/killed a man while on an on-ramp for I-5. She was messed up for years afterwards.
Yep the WSP will be investigating the WSP and that ends just the Seattle PD investigating the Seattle PD.
Faith in humanity is diminished from reading some of these comments.
I agree. It always sickens me the thoughts that people have when reading a traggic article like this.. its even more sickening that people have audacity to actually write down thier thoughts thinking it is ok.
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RIP to person whos life was lost. No mater the situation a life lost is a life lost.
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My heart also goes out to the tropper who will without doubt suffer with the knowledge that he took someones life.
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I pray that everyone involved and/or affected by this is able to peace.
Terrible accident. I feel sorry for the driver. It doesn't matter what his job is; driving at night and hitting someone walking across a freeway (where you couldn't possibly expect that) must be very traumatic. Condolences to the family of the deceased.
Man Trolls are jumping all over this like frogs on a hot sidewalk...
i wonder if he was texting, as the rule does not apply to them
It's very sad that happened but what idiot would cross an interstate anyway? If he had dark clothes on probably no way he could be seen in but at the same time knowing the WSP and their speeding and petty tyranny on the roads I'm surprised he didn't write the guy a posthumous ticket for jaywalking.Â
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 @Andrew Dodge And we have another troll
 @DarkParty Yes they seem to be multiplying this morning... like roaches
I wonder why so many think that a coverup is in the works when talking about northwest law enforcement, humm maybe their track record has something to do with it...
I wonder if speed was a factor here, has anyone ever seen a state patrol doing the speed limit? I rarely ever see any cop going the speed limit when on duty...it's like they feel they are above the law - at least traffic laws.Â
 @Carl W. I had a long talk with an Officer in Tacoma about a year ago. I can't say if it still applies for today, but I could imagine it being applicable still. They stated that on many occasions, they are stretched so thin, in order for them to be able to patrol efficiently, they have to go about 10 MPH over the limit. At the time, they just didn't have enough people to cover the area. Right or wrong, I'm just passing along what this Officer stated.
@Carl W. They are!
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@Dannyboy @Carl W. Dannyboy... the pipes are calling. If he was on a call, that would have been the first part of the release by WSP. (Notice that they DO release that there was a 2nd vehicle following). It is common knowledge that WSP uses speeding (or chooses to speed); however you are right: More details are needed (Don't hold your breath for them: WSP is investigating WSP)
 @Bomarc They were looking for someone that the lights would have scared off. You need to read more than one news source.
King 5 reported
"Before the crash, the troopers were preparing to set up northbound I-5 to watch for a vehicle that was involved in what was described as a weapons brandishing incident. Troopers received a report that a motorist showed a rifle to another motorist on or near I-5 at Starbird Road near the Snohomish-Skagit County Line. The vehicle involved was not located and nobody was hurt."
I actaully have several problems with that:
#1: Why was it not listed earlier?
#2: His emergancy lights were not turned on. (They ALWAYS leave the lights on until the incident is DONE)
#3: His headlights are turned off.
#4: Another detail: This is a freeway OFF ramp. Was he in the road-way, or walking along it? (For example: Walking to get gas after running out on the freeway?)
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I'm not defending a man running on the freeway (Still don't know the details) but something is off here; details will help.
 @Bomarc  @Dannyboy  @Carl They were on a call, there was a report of driver in a white pickup truck brandishing a rifle at other drivers.
 @Carl W. Considering that the speed limit is probably 55 mph or above here, I think this is a moot point. A pedestrian was crossing I-5. I-5 is a freeway, therefore it is for Motor Vehicles Only.
 @here_I_go_again you are incorrect! According to the laws in Washington it is legal for bicycles and pedestrians to be on the highway, including I-5! Sounds crazy I know but true.
 @Carl W. In my experience, the cops are never going the speed limit, they are always way under because everyone around them must have warrants and think they have to slow to 5mph below the speed limit when there is a cop.  I try to get past cops as quickly as I can so I don't get stuck in that situation. Â
@jellyfish @Carl W. Holstein fever!
@Carl W.  One day while doing to work, I actually was going the speed limit, and watched as four cops from different jurisdictions went by. Of them only one (Seattle PD) was doing the speed limit. So I called them. WSP did not return my call. Lake Forrest Park did return the call, then made an excuse that she was late for a court hearing (okay, that makes speeding legal?). One other said that corrective action would be taken.  I called Seattle was able to get in contact with the officer and thanked him for NOT speeding; setting the right example.Â
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Maybe we should do this more⦠watch the watchers.
@Bomarc
I was coming home late one night from the Imax theater in Lacey when I saw 4 out-of-state cop cars booking it up I-5 North. It was the day before the 4 murdered Lakewood cops procession. They were going AT LEAST 90 mph at almost midnight swerving around like they were racing each other and trying to cut each other off. How do I know they were going that fast? Because I caught up with them, found out what department they were from (written on the side of the cop car) and I called that department IN CALIFORNIA at midnight DEMANDING to speak to however was in charge.
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The "night watch supervisor" called me right back and I reamed him a new one. How dare his officers speed racing through OUR state for a non-emergency at midnight! They don't know these roads and racing is illegal! They're gonna cause an accident which we don't need right now especially with the 4 officers that just passed away!
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While on the phone with the officers supervisor, I called 911 on three-way. Reported what I had seen, let them know that I had the officers shift supervisor on the line and he told our 911 to pull them over for reckless driving. As I got up to the 512 exit, there were 3 of the California cop cars pulled over.
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The next evening I got a phone call from the supervisor again, thanking me for keeping an eye on our roads. The 6 officers involved had to report back to California immediately (they didn't stay for the procession) and was put on brief suspensions due to their lack of professionalism during off duty times in department vehicles.
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I don't care if you are a cop or not. You should have to follow the same rules as everyone else.
 @Bomarc  @Carl Years ago, I was in the explorer program at the WSP.  It was a great learning experience.  One of the things I was taught was that there are two schools of thought on "patrolling".  You can either go faster than the speed limit and look for problems or you can go slower than the speed limit and let everyone pass you while you check them out.
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Let me ask you: would you rather have a cop going slower and causing traffic to back up or having the cop go a little faster while he looks at everything? Â Frankly, I'd rather have a faster cop than a slower one.
@JoeKing @Bomarc @Carl Joe ... The answer to your question is "No". There are enough places to hide (such as over passes, corners for example) and other resources (airplanes, unmarked cars) can be used. Given that WSP's 'patrol' mandate is only (limited to) state / federal highways. There is no need for them to speed. Why do you think that many people have âblue light feverâ? Iâve passed cops (while doing the posted speed -- and in one instance I got a NASTY glare from them ... Bellevue PD). âBadâ cops have made it rough - giving you the âlimited optionâ selection above. (Two notes: #1⦠I use to be a cop; #2⦠Iâve run across a fair number of dirty cops.).
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BTW: âGoing faster while patrollingâ is (was?) violating the law. Just looking for bad people doesnât give the cop the right to be above the law.Â