Friends described 23-year-old Ty Barnes as a solid, great guy who had an infectious laugh.
On Wednesday, Aug. 22, Barnes' friends and family gathered at the accident site at 50th Street Northwest and Reid Drive Northwest for a candlelight vigil.
The Gig Harbor resident graduated from Gig Harbor High School in 2007 and was stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord with the United States Air Force since April this year.
The airman was .
Pierce County Sheriff’s spokesperson Det. Ed Troyer said Barnes was on his way home when he left the roadway on a sweeping right-hand curve and hit a large rock.
Barnes, who was the youngest of three boys, was a senior airman who was posthumously promoted to staff sergeant.