The grief-stricken family of a young woman tragically killed in a notorious intersection collision has initiated legal action against the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), city officials, and the Port of Tacoma, seeking accountability for what they argue was a preventable catastrophe. This follows an accident that claimed six lives on State Route 509 at the Alexander Avenue East intersection, an area known infamously as the Tacoma Tide Flats.

According to KIRO7, the family has filed a lawsuit after a harrowing crash in July where two vehicles collided and six people died. The legal pursuit emerges amidst reports that while the state has finally launched construction for the State Route 167 extension project, these measures are glaringly belated for the victims who perished in last year's accident. Specifically, Vicki Fritsch, a local driver, mentioned, "This light," while pointing to the troubled intersection's traffic light. "That light. People like to go through this light here. And when this light is green, and they’ll just hit you. Yeah. It’s very dangerous."

Furthermore, an investigation into the crash site's background by the family's attorneys revealed concerning statistics—consistent with a report obtained by KOMO News—suggesting that out of 99 crashes reported from January 2018 through December 2022 on SR 509, thirty-five were due to failures to adhere to the traffic signs or stoplights.

The lawsuit specifically names driver Vitaliy Papirnik, implicating him for operating his vehicle in an unsafe manner that culminated in the crash, which was fatal to 19-year-old passenger Cerra Corner. The family's advocates are now pursuing damages that include critical medical and funeral expenses. "One thing about the lawsuit is it gives the family some hope that they can give meaning to Cerra’s life, that they can help affect changes here that will prevent other people down the road from being harmed," attorney Cochran conveyed to KOMO News.

As the case draws public attention, the city of Tacoma, Port of Tacoma, and the WSDOT have yet to make an official statement about the pending litigation; thus, the anticipation is palpable as the community eagerly awaits a response that may never come, or if it does, may offer little consolation to those who have suffered irreplaceable losses—no comment has been provided about the accusations or the measures they might take to enhance the safety of the infamous intersection.