Tragedy struck on a downtown Olympia sidewalk Wednesday when two women were fatally injured in a collision involving two vehicles. KOMO News reported that the incident occurred around 5 p.m. at the intersection of 5th Avenue Southwest and Simmons Street Northwest. A two-car collision sent one of the vehicles careening onto the sidewalk and into the pedestrians, according to the news outlet. Responders pronounced both women dead at the scene.
The victims were later identified as Joy Ezindu, 71, from Tumwater, and Carla Gonzales, 62, from Olympia. The Thurston County Coroner, Gary Warnock, stated that the women died from multiple blunt force injuries caused by the truck. The Olympian added that the truck had collided with a car before it spun out to tragically end up on the sidewalk. Even as the investigation continues, Olympia Police Lt. Paul Lower revealed that they frequently to coordinate with other agencies for additional expertise, noting, "Washington State Patrol, those folks often have some expertise because they handle so many collisions," in a statement obtained by The Olympian.
The aftermath of the crash resulted in the closure of the area for several hours, as various law enforcement agencies, including Olympia Police Department (OPD) officers, Washington State Patrol troopers, and Thurston County deputies, conducted their investigation. As is standard in these circumstances, the OPD stated that the collision remains under investigation.
For those impacted by similar tragedies, the Seattle pedestrian accident lawyers at Dubin Law Group offer their services. Their firm, which has experience in auto vs. pedestrian collision cases, emphasized their commitment to advocating on behalf of clients. "We will go to any lengths on your behalf in aggressively pursuing your goals," was posted on their blog, which was conveyed by Dubin Law Group’s website. Such legal support might provide a recourse for those families mourning and seeking answers after sudden losses. While the community awaits the results of the ongoing investigation, the OPD has yet to make any arrests in connection with the incident.
