A tragic car-SUV collision on the Tacoma Tideflats in Washington State has resulted in six fatalities.
On Sunday, July 16, a collision involving a 2021 KIA Forte hatchback and a BMW SUV ended tragically. According to the Washington State Patrol, the incident occurred at the intersection of Alexander Avenue and State Route 509 shortly after 11 am, and five individuals died at the scene while a sixth succumbed to injuries later.
Investigations are underway to ascertain the cause of the collision. The Washington State Patrol believes the crash was caused by speed and that one of the drivers failed to stop at a red light. It is unclear whether the passengers were utilizing seat belts at the time of the crash. What is known is that the KIA seats five people and there were seven in the car at the time of the crash.
An eyewitness to the crash, Michael May, despite potential risks of an explosion, attempted to assist the victims trapped in the overturned KIA. However, their efforts could not prevent the fatalities, which occurred mostly in or near the KIA.
The victims, ranging from 19 to 25 years old, were mostly from Arizona, and included three males and three females. The lone survivor from the KIA, 21-year-old Anthony Pena, was critically injured and transported to St. Joseph’s Medical Center. The occupants of the BMW SUV were a couple in their 40s en route to church.
The Washington State Patrol has requested the public’s assistance in the ongoing investigation, asking for any additional witnesses or dash cam footage that could provide crucial information about the incident.
