A tragic incident unfolded in Puyallup, Washington, when a 26-year-old Tacoma mother was fatally struck by a vehicle while trying to flag down help for a disabled car. As reported by FOX13 Seattle, the accident occurred last Saturday night. The woman was in the company of her two young children, ages 4 and 6 when her car broke down in a parking lot. It is believed that she ventured out to seek help from passing drivers when the collision happened on South Meridian.
According to the News Tribune, the 31-year-old Puyallup man who hit the pedestrian was not under the influence but was cited for driving with a suspended license and lacking proof of insurance. He remained at the scene after the crash and made the call to 911 himself. Unfortunately, despite being initially conscious and breathing when transported by Central Pierce Fire and Rescue to a Tacoma hospital, the victim's injuries proved fatal. She passed away in the early hours of the next morning at approximately 2:39 a.m.
Details around the circumstances of the incident continue to emerge, as authorities are piecing together the events leading up to the collision. The mother's attempt to get assistance turned tragic rapidly, highlighting the vulnerability of pedestrians, even on seemingly routine nights. KOMO News notes that the woman was attempting to signal to other motorists for aid after her vehicle became immobile. The emergency response teams rushed her to care, unaware that the outcome would gravely turn permanent by the morning's light.
Officers evaluated the driver at the scene and detected no impairment. The lack of insurance and a suspended license were the only legal discrepancies found in the driver's situation.
