The Tacoma Police Department has recently taken a significant step forward in the SR-509 collision case, which resulted in a Washington State Patrol trooper's death. A vehicle of interest connected to the tragic incident, which took place on the evening of Friday, December 19, has been located and impounded by authorities, a development brought to public attention as the department intensifies its inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the trooper’s fatality. Investigators are actively pursuing leads and are calling on the community to come forward with any information that might further aid the ongoing investigation.
The incident unfolded on the on-ramp to southbound SR-509 from Port of Tacoma Road, when the trooper, in the process of responding to an unrelated collision, was struck by a vehicle around 7:23 p.m. He was thrown into the right travel lane and was lying motionless there when a second vehicle, a dark-colored pickup truck, hit him and continued without stopping. The Tacoma Police Department is urging potential eyewitnesses or anyone with dash-camera footage from the area around that time to reach out through the Crime Stoppers tip line.
Details from Tacoma's official news report highlight the crucial timeline for potential witnesses. Any footage or testimony from southbound SR-509 near Port of Tacoma Road between approximately 7:20 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on the night of the incident is considered valuable information that could contribute to resolving this case.
The determination to close this case grows as the community and law enforcement officials are seeking justice for the fallen trooper. With considerable progress in finding a vehicle believed to be involved, detectives remain hopeful that the public’s assistance will bring them closer to unravelling the events that led to this tragedy. For those willing to provide information, anonymous tips can be directed to the Tacoma Police Department through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS. In the time since the incident occurred, every piece of evidence or lead provided holds potential weight in the ongoing investigation into this fatal episode.
This case is still very much an active investigation, and any significant updates regarding breakthroughs or further developments will be shared with the public as they become available. The community and the Washington State law enforcement family continue to mourn the loss of the trooper, while justice remains sought after in the highways where the cold night of December 19th posed a grim tale.
