A truck driver was killed Friday after his vehicle sideswiped a City of Tacoma Ford F-550 on Pine Street, causing him to fall into the roadway where he was struck by his own truck. The crash happened just south of South Tacoma Way and shut the street down for several hours as investigators documented the scene. Emergency crews pronounced the man dead at the location, and Tacoma Police said the cause of the collision is still under investigation.
What investigators say
According to The News Tribune, Tacoma Police spokeswoman Shelbie Boyd said the driver’s truck veered into the oncoming lane and sideswiped the city-owned F-550. That impact led the man to fall out in front of his own vehicle, which then ran over him. Officers pronounced the driver deceased at the scene, and detectives told reporters they had not yet figured out why the truck crossed into opposing traffic. Investigators were gathering physical evidence and speaking with witnesses at the site.
Scene and road closures
Tacoma Police issued a traffic alert about a collision near the 6600 block of South Tacoma Way and warned that the roadway would be fully blocked for several hours, according to the Tacoma Police Department. The department’s media page included a traffic advisory image and a media contact for press follow-up. Police and fire crews stayed on scene for an extended investigation and cleanup.
Local safety context
South Pine Street is identified by the city as part of its Vision Zero high-risk network and has been the subject of recent safety audits and efforts to cut vehicle speeds, putting this crash on a corridor already flagged for changes. The city’s Vision Zero action plan and data dashboard list South Pine Street among the routes prioritized for engineering and policy work to reduce deadly and serious-injury collisions, according to the City of Tacoma Vision Zero page. City transportation staff and safety partners will likely factor this collision into decisions about both near-term fixes and longer-range projects.
Investigation ongoing
Tacoma detectives said they have not ruled out impairment, a medical event, or other possible contributors and are continuing to investigate. The police media office shared contact information for anyone with tips and noted that collision reports can be requested once they are completed, according to the Tacoma Police Department. This story will be updated as authorities release additional details.
