As the summer months approach, bringing with them an uptick in emergency call volume, Pierce County residents are being urged to exercise caution following a tragic weekend that left multiple people dead in separate incidents. Officials from the Pierce County Sheriff's Department reported a shooting in Parkland, a heartbreaking drowning on Herron Island, and a fatal collision involving a motorcyclist.
Early last Saturday, deputies responded to a shooting at Parkwood Apartments where they found a male victim with a gunshot wound. According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department blog post, the suspect, who had previously threatened the victim, was apprehended on the 14400 block of Pacific Ave. The victim was quickly transported to the hospital, sustaining non-life-threatening injuries and the weapon was found discarded in nearby grass. The 33-year-old assailant now faces charges of felony harassment and first-degree assault.
The following day, tragedy struck on Herron Island when a couple in their 80s, both suffering from dementia, drove their vehicle into the water. Despite the valiant efforts of two civilians attempting to quickly save them, the pair submerged with their car, which was located some 200 feet offshore at a depth of approximately 18 feet. Recovered by an extensive team including the Pierce County Dive Team and the Coast Guard, both occupants were pronounced dead, their vehicle later extracted from the water's depths, as stated by the Pierce County Sheriff's Department.
On Sunday also witnessed a dreadful incident where a motorcyclist was killed after an SUV, operated by an allegedly impaired driver, crossed into the opposing lane and collided head-on with the motorcycle. "The suspect vehicle continued another 100 yards, taking out street signs and the school’s fire hydrant before coming to rest," as reported the Pierce County Sheriff's Department. The motorcyclist, whose wife was riding alongside him, was declared deceased at the scene, while the SUV driver, a 42-year-old woman, was arrested and processed for DUI and vehicular homicide.
In the wake of these incidents, the Pierce County Sheriff's Department appeals to the public to avoid drinking and driving and to make sound judgments during the upcoming beautiful weather. Planning ahead for a ride can greatly reduce the risk of such events, saving lives and sparing families from experiencing irreversible losses.
