(Pierce County, Washington) Pedestrian Killed in Pierce County after a vehicle struck him on August 3rd, at the intersection of State Route 161 and 288th Street East in Graham.
A 46-year old woman hits a 61-year old pedestrian. He was unresponsive when responders showed up to the scene. Washington Highway State Patrol Troop, Kameron Watts states that she does not know how the collision occurred.
Watts says she doesn’t know whether it was sight visibility or the pedestrian crossed the street when they were not supposed to.
Analysis on State Route 161 and 288th Street East
Washington Highway Patrol may review the Vehicle Homicide law, code RCW 46.61.520, since the driver killed the pedestrian. Under this law, a driver resulting in death of another person is a part of Class A felony punishable.
If the law has a maximum of 20 years in imprisonment, that would mean it is a Class A felony which can be reviewed under Prosecution related to felonies defined outside Title 9A RCW. This tells us that the 46 year old woman may face up to 20 years in regards to the violation law.
If impairment was the cause of the collision within the driver and pedestrian, investigators may want to take a look at the Driving under the influence law, code 46.61.502. This code states one of the following violations in regards to being under the influence of intoxicated liquor, cannabis, or any drugs while driving a car in the state of Washington.
Investigators may also want to take a look at RCW 41.61.506, in regards to a certain percentage of alcohol in your blood after two hours. This law states one of the following violations in regards that if within two hours a driver has 0.08 percent of alcohol in their system, that violates the DUI law.
Advice for the Family
If you have lost a loved one in this incident, staying in contact with the Washington Highway Patrol can help you receive more information from the investigation. You can request official reports when they become available to better understand the circumstances.
You may also consider speaking with a qualified legal professional experienced in pedestrian accident cases. They can help explain your options and guide you through next steps. In addition, seeking support from family, friends, or grief counseling services can provide comfort during this difficult time.
If you have any concerns about navigating the legal process surrounding this incident, call 866-883-4318 to speak with a lawyer.
