The Washington State Patrol Major Accident Investigation Team is investigating the at 5:24 a.m. in the westbound lanes of SR-16 just east of the Burnham Drive overpass.
A state trooper was parked on the right shoulder at the scene of prior collisions that were clear of the roadway. In the next three minutes, a westbound passenger car crashed off the right side of the highway and a westbound motorcyclist went down on the roadway.
Another driver stopped behind the trooper vehicle on the shoulder to help. A westbound pickup truck traveled onto the shoulder and struck the rear of the good samaritan’s vehicle, forcing it ahead into the trooper, samaritan, the motorcycle operator, and the patrol car. The trooper and motorcyclist were injured and the person trying to help was killed.
Detectives are seeking additional witnesses to the chain of events leading up to and the actual collision phases. If you saw anything Monday morning, or know somebody who did, please call State Patrol Detective Sgt. Jerry Cooper at 360-805-1192 or Detective Curt Ladines at 360-805-1160.
Information provided by the Washington State Patrol.
