A young Seattle woman was among three people treated at a King County hospital in the wake of an October 4 crash that led to the death of a 68-year-old tractor driver. Police suspect that drunk driving may have played a role in the fatal truck accident that took place in the early afternoon on I-5 in Federal Way.
According to reports, a 21-year-old Renton man lost control of his Nissan Altima near the 336th Street interchange in Federal Way. After the Altima crashed into a barrier, a second vehicle driven by a 24-year-old Tacoma man struck the vehicle and pushed it back into the path of traffic.
An oncoming tractor-trailer collided with the second vehicle and then rolled into a sound barrier and a nearby home. The truck caught fire and its driver suffered fatal injuries. The Seattle woman and a 21-year-old Algoma woman Algona woman riding as passengers in the tractor-trailer suffered injuries and were transported to St. Francis hospital for treatment along with the driver of the vehicle struck by the big rig.
Although the fatal motor vehicle accident remains under investigation, the driver who caused it may be subject to civil liability in addition to any criminal charges that may be filed. If the fatally injured truck driver has a surviving spouse or other family, the family members may have grounds to support a wrongful death claim seeking damages for loss of income and loss of companionship among others. An experienced personal injury attorney can help the family obtain fair compensation for their tragic loss.
Source: Renton Patch, “Renton Man Suspected Of DUI, Causing Multi-Car Accident,” Jenny Manning, Nov. 5, 2012