A woman died and a man suspected of causing a four-car crash was hospitalized with serious injuries Sunday morning after their vehicles collided at South Cedar Street and Center Street in Tacoma, shutting down the busy intersection for hours. Six people total were involved in the wreck, which happened at about 10:01 a.m.
According to The News Tribune, the at-fault driver, a man, was hospitalized for serious injuries, while a woman riding in the second vehicle involved suffered life-threatening injuries and later died at the hospital. The outlet reported that the other four drivers involved suffered minor injuries. The crash was confirmed by Tacoma Fire Department spokesperson Chelsea Shepherd, and Tacoma Police Department spokesperson Shelbie Boyd said the intersection would remain closed for several hours as investigators worked the scene.
The News Tribune reported that the suspect driver's injuries were serious and that police said charges would be filed. Police have not yet disclosed whether impairment, speed, or a signal violation played a role. The News Tribune's report notes that the crash investigation is ongoing and that the exact cause remains unknown.
What Charges Could Follow
Under Washington's vehicular homicide statute, RCW 46.61.520, a driver who causes a death while under the influence, driving recklessly, or with disregard for others' safety can face a Class A felony, according to legal resources detailing Washington criminal law. That charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $50,000 fine. Tacoma police have said charges will be filed, without specifying which statute might apply.
A Tough Year for Tacoma Roads
Sunday's crash lands amid a broader conversation about roadway safety in Tacoma. Just last weekend, Hoodline reported that a 28-year-old Tacoma man died after a crash split his car in half against a power pole in a separate three-vehicle collision on Portland Avenue.
The city committed in 2020 to eliminating all traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2035 under the Vision Zero banner. Pierce County has since taken its own step, formally adopting a countywide Vision Zero Action Plan in April 2025 using federal Safe Streets and Roads for All grant funding to target its highest-injury roads.
Statewide, the picture looks somewhat brighter. Preliminary Washington Traffic Safety Commission data reported by the Tacoma Daily Index showed traffic fatalities across Washington dropped more than 10% in 2025 to 659 deaths, down from 737 in 2024 and 809 in 2023. That same data found driver impairment contributed to 45%, or 297, of statewide traffic fatalities, while speeding factored into 189 fatal crashes and distracted driving into 103.
Tacoma police have not said whether impairment, speed, or a signal violation played a role in Sunday's crash. The investigation remains open.
