A fatal crash involving two suspected intoxicated drivers is under investigation by the Kent Police Traffic Unit following a late-night collision Monday night, Nov. 4, 2024 on Pacific Highway South, authorities said.
Police said the accident occurred at around 11:37 p.m. Monday night in the 22400 block of Pacific Highway S. (map below), where witnesses reported a serious crash with injuries and flames from one of the vehicles.
Kent Police and emergency responders arrived to find a woman severely injured and unresponsive near one of the vehicles. Sadly, despite efforts from Puget Sound Fire and Medic 1 teams, she succumbed to her injuries at the scene.
Witnesses told police that a Buick Regal, driven by a 34-year-old Kent man, was traveling at high speed northbound on the highway. The driver reportedly appeared intoxicated, with witnesses observing him take a beer bottle from his vehicle and toss it into nearby brush. Police retrieved the bottle and noticed clear signs of impairment, taking the man into custody on suspicion of DUI.
The other vehicle, a Ford Taurus driven by a 45-year-old Tacoma man, had reportedly been traveling southbound when it attempted a U-turn into the northbound lanes, resulting in the collision with the Buick. The Taurus driver admitted to consuming alcohol prior to the accident and exhibited signs of impairment, police said. He was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment, where police obtained a warrant for a blood test to assess his intoxication levels.
Kent Police’s Traffic Unit is continuing its investigation, gathering witness statements and evidence to determine the sequence of events and appropriate charges. The King County Medical Examiner’s Office will conduct an official examination to confirm the cause of death.
Police are urging anyone who witnessed the collision and has not yet been interviewed to contact the Kent PD Tip Line at 253-856-5808 or email KPDTipLine@kentwa.gov.
