UNIVERSITY PLACE, WA – Authorities say a 17-year-old from Tacoma is in the hospital and facing charges following a hit-and-run accident on 35th Street West on Sunday, reports KIRO7.
The accident occurred around 1 a.m. Sunday and involved two vehicles that were demolished in the wreck.
A Pierce County sheriff’s deputy was responding to a report of a nearby loud party when the crash happened. After rushing to the accident, they found a demolished Mazda with a 19-year-old woman who was pronounced dead at the scene. The other driver had already abandoned their car and fled the scene.
Neighbor Dave Zeeck suggested one of the vehicles must have been speeding based on the amount of damage left at the scene.
Deputies ran the vehicle’s plate and determined the driver was a male teenager whose parents reside in Tacoma. They were able to locate the 17-year-old after discovering he had been admitted to a nearby hospital.
Officials say the suspect remains in the hospital but is now facing charges of felony hit-and-run, reckless driving and vehicular homicide. Due to his age, he will likely be taken to juvenile detention after his release and may be tried as an adult.
Pierce County Sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Darren Moss said investigators believe the nearby party may have been linked to the accident.
We will update this blog if more details are made public.
A hit-and-run can be devastating. It also leaves its victims and families with many unanswered questions. If you or a loved one were injured or killed by a reckless driver who fled the scene, the Seattle Car Accident Lawyers at Dubin Law Group are here to assist you throughout the entire process. We will take on every aspect of your case to get the answers and justice you deserve. Contact us today to get started with our easy chat box on our site or call us at 425-800-8000.