One teen killed, two others hurt in rollover crash
PIERCE COUNTY -- Washington State Patrol troopers are investigating a fatal rollover accident that occurred Thursday morning in Graham.
The accident happened sometime after midnight in the 23700 block of Meridian Avenue. According to police, a 2005 Dodge Neon with three male teens was speeding down the road when it flipped and rolled over several times.
The car entered someone’s property and struck a parked pick-up truck, officers said. As the vehicle was rolling, one of the teens, an 18-year-old, was ejected and killed. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials said he was not wearing a seatbelt.
The 17-year-old driver was placed under arrest for vehicular homicide after allegedly admitting to driving at speeds between 80 and 85 mph. He suffered minor injuries and was able to walk away from the scene.
Another 17-year-old suffered serious injuries and was transported to Tacoma General Hospital.
After rolling several times the car came to rest a foot from a home. The homeowner, Lori Jeffries heard the commotion as she lay in bed and ran outside to help.
When she went outside, she saw a young man motionless in her yard.
“I felt for his pulse," Jeffries said. "There was no pulse. So, I knew he was gone.
The driver asked Jeffies if his buddy was OK, she said.
"'My buddy’s OK right? You see him breathing right,'" Jeffries said the teen asked. "And I just stared at him. Within less than five minutes the fire department and the police officers were here.”
Just hours after the accident, Jeffries said she is still in shock. “I feel sick. I feel upset. I’m like kind of numb. I just can’t imagine."
All of the teens were incoming seniors at Graham-Kapowsin High School in Graham.
The identity of the deceased teen has not yet been released.