KING COUNTY, WA — A 27-year-old Gig Harbor man died late Thursday after a wrong-way crash with a DUI suspect in northeast Auburn, reports KOMO News.
The fatal wreck occurred on the eastbound lanes of State Route 18 near the intersection with 312th Street. It was first reported shortly before 12:00 a.m.
According to the Washington State Patrol, a 38-year-old Bellevue man was behind the wheel of a 2017 Mazda CX-3 heading westbound in the eastbound lanes. The Mazda ultimate collided head-on with a 2019 Chevy Equinox UT driven by the victim.
Trooper Rick Johnson confirmed the driver of the Chevy died from his injuries at the scene.
The wrong-way driver was transported to an area hospital with unspecified injuries. Authorities said he was placed under custody for an investigation into “vehicular homicide and driving under the influence.”
No other injuries were reported in the event, but following the crash, an eastbound vehicle punctured a tire from traveling over debris.
A section of eastbound SR-18 was shut down for nearly four and a half hours as the WSP conducted an investigation. All traffic was forced to divert at the Auburn/Black Diamond Road exit.
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