Traffic accident claims the life of Lake Stevens woman

A 26-year-old Lake Stevens resident is killed July 29 after her vehicle is struck by s suspected drunk driver.

July 30, 2011 12:02 pm

MARYSVILLE – Marysville police officers were dispatched at approximately 11:15 p.m., July 29, to a suspected DUI subject in a Dodge truck traveling lane to lane westbound on Grove Street west of State Avenue. Officers received additional information that the vehicle was then parked in the eastbound lane of Grove Street facing westbound.

The vehicle was located southbound on Cedar Avenue by one of the responding officers. The vehicle continued south turning into oncoming eastbound traffic on Fourth Street in the 1200 block. Officers attempted to contact the driver who then crossed northwest over the concrete barrier on Fourth Street striking a vehicle in the process of eluding the police officers.

The vehicle continued westbound under the Interstate 5 overpass toward the Tulalip Reservation during which time officers pursued the vehicle. The suspect vehicle collided with another vehicle just west of I-5 which was eastbound in the center lane. No serious injuries were reported to either driver of the first two collisions.

The driver of the suspect vehicle continued westbound at which time he turned into a vehicle traveling eastbound just east of 33rd and Marine View Drive causing a fatal collision. The suspect vehicle ended up on its passenger side on the south side of Marine View Drive with the suspect trapped in his vehicle.

Officers were able to remove the driver swiftly as his vehicle starting to catch fire. The fire was extinguished before fully engulfed in flames. The driver of the victim vehicle, a 26-year-old female Lake Stevens resident, was trapped in the vehicle with no signs of life. Officers initiated CPR until the Marysville Fire Department arrived on scene and relieved them. The driver passed away on scene.

The male suspect, who is a 45-year-old Arlington resident, was taken into custody and transported to the hospital with minor injuries. Upon completion of the traffic collision investigation by Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, the suspect is pending charges of vehicle homicide, eluding a police officer, and hit and run attended. Washington State Patrol, Tulalip Police, and the Snohomish County Collision Unit assisted Marysville Police Department with the investigation and scene control.