Two people die in nighttime accidents in Tacoma, three are arrested for drunk driving

Three car crashes in the Tacoma area Saturday night were suspected of being drunk driving. Two people died, three were hospitalized and three were arrested.

The first accident was reported by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) at 2:16 a.m. on westbound State Route (SR) 512 near Canyon Road East.

According to Washington State Patrol (WSP) According to Trooper John Dattilo, the route was closed for investigation after two people were killed.

Trooper Dattilo described the circumstances of the accident and said: “This collision occurred because a wrong-way driver collided head-on with another vehicle. The two dead victims were both from the vehicle involved in the accident. The driver who caused the accident is in custody for two counts of negligent homicide while under the influence of alcohol.”

According to the trooper, a third occupant from the crash victim’s car was taken to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, and a toddler who was in the car that caused the crash was uninjured. The Puyallup Police Department and WSDOT Tacoma assisted with the road closure during the investigation, and by 10 a.m. the road was reopened.

SR 512 crash, June 2, 2024. (Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)

Minutes after the first accident was reported, WSDOT Tacoma reported another accident on northbound Interstate 5 (I-5) near South 56th Street. Initially, only three lanes were closed, but shortly thereafter, all northbound lanes were blocked.

NB I-5 at 56th Street, car crash, June 2, 2024. (Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)

According to Trooper Dattilo, this collision was caused by a wrong-way driver who collided head-on with another car. A passenger in the victim’s car sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The driver who caused the accident was arrested for assault while under the influence of alcohol.

By 7 a.m. the police had cleared the road and reopened the motorway.

At approximately 4:30 a.m., an accident was reported on I-5 southbound near the Interstate 705 (I-705) interchange and crews from the Washington State Patrol and Tacoma Fire Department responded.

Soldiers and @TacomaFire are on site with blocking collisions NB I705 from SB I5. The road is completely closed. pic.twitter.com/jd0eR0Y3Gi

— Trooper John Dattilo (@wspd1pio) June 2, 2024

Trooper Datillo told drivers to expect an extended closure as Tacoma Police had closed the road for an investigation.

According to the trooper, a car traveling the wrong way collided head-on with a small SUV and the driver was arrested for driving under the influence. After the first crash, another car traveling northbound came to the scene and struck one of the occupants of the victim’s car. That occupant was taken to the hospital and is expected to survive.

Troopers respond to a car crash on I-5 South near the I-705 interchange. (Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)

According to police officials, the third car stopped and cooperated with the investigation. The road was reopened to travelers around 10 a.m.