Police: Underage driver likely under the influence caused crash that seriously injured father, child



SEATAC, Wash. -- A father and his 7-year-old son are in intensive care at Harborview Medical Center after a violent crash Monday night in SeaTac.

Police believe a 15-year-old Burien girl caused the wreck when she ran a red light and  broadsided the father’s pickup truck, slicing it in half.

She was released from Harborview Medical Center and then booked into juvenile detention on vehicular assault charges.

The devastating crash happened just after 9 p.m. Monday at South 136th Street and Des Moines Memorial Drive.

"Detectives believe speed and alcohol or drugs contributed to the accident," sheriff's Sgt. Jason Houck said in a news release.

Investigators are waiting for blood results on the underage driver.

In all, seven people were involved in this crash, with four being sent to the hospital.

Neighbors said they were amazed that nobody was killed.

“I just can’t believe somebody survived that yesterday,” said neighbor Saroun Samuels “It was horrible to see.”

Samuels said she walked out her front door to see police and fire crews scrambling to help everyone caught in this devastating crash.

“I saw the truck, it was in half,” she said. “Then I heard a young girl screaming.”

King County sheriff’s deputies said the driver of the pickup truck had the green light – but the unlicensed teenager driving a BMW crossed through the red light and nearly sliced the truck in two.

Inside the truck were a father and his 7-year-old son. Fire crews had to pull them from the twisted metal.

“I don’t know if they were on their way home, but they were doing everything right,” said sheriff's Sgt. Jason Houck. “They had their seatbelts on.”

But inside the BMW five people also survived the crash. The 15-year-old female driver and her 20-year-old male passenger were also taken to local hospitals.

In the back seat, two more teenagers and a 5-year-old child walked away from the crash. Investigators said they know who they are but still want to interview them and get them checked out by doctors.

Samuels said she feels lucky they weren’t on the road Monday night, adding that anybody could have been in the same intersection at the wrong time.

“It’s just crazy,” she said. “I can’t believe it, a 15-year-old driving?”