Early Sunday morning on southbound Interstate 5 near SeaTac, Washington State Patrol detectives say a driver caused a multi-vehicle crash, then took off, leaving a 72-year-old woman dead and another motorist injured. The wreck shut down lanes just south of the South 200th Street ramp and kicked off an active search as troopers worked to reconstruct the chain of events.
According to FOX 13 Seattle, troopers responded to multiple 911 calls around 3:22 a.m. reporting a multi-car crash on southbound I-5 south of the South 200th Street ramp. When they arrived, they found the 72-year-old woman in a Toyota Prius dead at the scene, and a 26-year-old man in a Subaru who was transported to a nearby hospital with injuries. Investigators say the first collision left the victim's car disabled in the roadway, and a second crash followed when another vehicle hit the disabled car.
Dangerous stretch of I-5
This portion of I-5 - the south Seattle/SeaTac corridor - has been flagged in recent analyses as one of the region’s higher-risk stretches for deadly collisions, where heavy truck traffic, construction, and speeding all collide. Local reporting and traffic studies have pointed to multiple deadly incidents along southern King County stretches of I-5 in recent years, and troopers say targeted enforcement is part of a broader safety push. KIRO 7 summarized that analysis and its discussion of Washington’s Target Zero safety work.
What investigators are asking for
Detectives told FOX 13 Seattle that debris recovered at the scene with Mercedes markings led them to believe the suspect vehicle may be a 2009–2017 two-door Mercedes E-Class coupe with damage to the front passenger-side corner and bumper. Investigators also say the driver who caused the initial crash briefly stopped at the scene before leaving. Anyone with dashcam or cellphone video, or other information, is asked to contact Detective Aidan Lawlor at [email protected] or 360-890-1558.
Legal exposure for fleeing drivers
Under Washington law, failing to stop and give aid after an accident that results in death can be charged as a felony and carries serious penalties, including potential prison time and revocation of driving privileges. RCW 46.52.020 specifies that leaving the scene of a crash that results in death is a class B felony and that leaving a scene that causes injury can be a class C felony.
Washington State Patrol detectives continue to investigate and are asking anyone who saw the crash or who captured video to come forward. Authorities say they will release additional information as the investigation develops.
