A 68-year-old Puyallup woman walking along a South Hill sidewalk was killed this morning when she was hit by a pickup truck, the Washington State Patrol reported.
Neither the driver nor another pedestrian had seen Merita Gayares right before the accident, State Patrol spokesman J.J. Gundermann said.
“This is nothing short of a horrible tragedy,” he said.
A 19-year-old man driving a company truck from a Puyallup car dealership was pulling out of the parking lot of a small business complex in the 12200 block of Meridian Avenue shortly after 9 a.m. today. He was turning right onto southbound Meridian.
The driver saw a pedestrian and stopped until the pedestrian passed, Gundermann said. He did not see the Gayares, who was headed northbound.
The driver pulled out and hit Gayares.
“He didn’t see other gal,” Gundermann said. “The other pedestrian didn’t see the other gal.”
The driver stopped and was “clearly shaken,” Gundermann said. The woman died at the scene.
Gundermann said troopers had not found any other witnesses to what happened. Speed, drugs and alcohol were not factors in the deadly crash, he added.
The incident remained under investigation and the driver might receive a ticket for failing to yield to a pedestrian, Gundermann said.
The investigation of the fatality blocked the roadway for more than two hours. The southbound lanes of Meridian were reopened at 11:30 a.m., the state DOT reported.
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Pierce County sheriff’s deputies and troopers are on the scene of a serious-injury car versus pedestrian crash on Meridian Avenue.
The crash is blocking both southbound lanes of Meridian at 122nd Street East on South Hill, the state DOT reports.
The incident began about 9:20 a.m.
Troopers, deputies, firefighters and paramedics are on the scene.
UPDATE as of 9:50 a.m.: Traffic is being diverted around the crash. The roadway is expected to be blocked for at least two hours, DOT reports.
UPDATE as of 10:30 a.m.: A lane of traffic in each direction is getting around the scene using both northbound lanes of Meridian.
UPDATE as of 11:15 a.m.: This crash did result in a fatality.
The State Patrol estimates the roadway will reopen at noon. A tow truck is on scene.
We are waiting for more details from the State Patrol about what happened and will update the blog when we get more information.
A) It’s not a Crash. He just hit her.
B) That poor boy.
Sorry, Alinup…that dog don’t hunt anymore.
Even though drivers are supposed to yield the right of way to pedestrians…the ultimate responsibility for the safety of the pedestrian lies with the pedestrian.
Don’t assume that the driver pulling out of a parking lot sees you if you’re approaching the driveway on the sidewalk.
What a sad thing for this woman, her friends and family…and the young driver.
Bad things happen to good people. That young driver has to be devastated.
wow such a sad thing to happen…
It’s bad for all involved, I’m sorry for both families. Pedestrians do need to make sure they have been seen by drivers before entering crosswalks, crossing streets, driveways, etc… Just because the crosswalk is marked and the “flashing walk sign” says it is ok to cross, make sure to look both ways for your own safety.
Flairs? PA systems? How far do you want elderly and young pedestrians to go? Quit making excuses for 24 y/o kids in a hurry.
Alinup…the investigation has provided enough detail to show that speed was not a factor in this fatality. Nor has the investigation indicated that the driver was impatient, or inattentive.
While drivers are required to yield for pedestrians…it is ultimately the pedestrian’s responsibility to make certain he or she has been seen when walking on the sidewalk and approaching driveway entry/exits.
Never assume just because you’re walking on a sidewalk, or crossing the street on a crosswalk with the signal…that you are safe.
Accidents happen. This was clearly an accident.
Your fear and hatred of the evil automobile is unfortunate, Alinup. And you have never answered my questions.
How do you get around in life? Do you walk everywhere you go? Do you take the bus?
How do you propose that a contractor gets his equip. from point A to point B several counties or halfway across the state?
How do you propose that firefighters travel to the scene of a fire, or EMS crews travel to the scene of an illness or injury…and how do they transport the ailing or injured patient without a motor vehicle?
At any rate…bearing in mind that drivers of every age are only human, and therefore prone to human error…all the more reason for pedestrians to take extra precautions when walking down city sidewalks, and crossing busy streets.
I agree, Jintz. I once witnessed a man who was running to catch a bus. His bus stop was across a busy street, and he was focused intently upon getting to that bus stop before the approaching bus reached it.
Unfortunately, he was so focused on getting to that bus stop that he bolted across traffic on an impulse. He made it across one lane because a driver stopped for him. The car in the next lane didn’t see him crossing, he ran right in front of the car, and he got himself hit and killed.
This was not the fault of the driver who hit him. This was not a marked cross walk. He jaywalked…or jay-BOLTED as the case was. It was his fault, and only his fault, and he paid the ultimate price for his impulsive actions.
A tragedy for him…for his family and friends…and for the poor driver who hadn’t broken any laws, and apparently had a flawless driving record.
Thanks interWOLFone. You brought up another good point – 2 lanes of traffic and one lane stops to be kind and let someone in and BAM ! The driver in the other lane is minding their own business, driving the speed limit and not breaking any laws and T-Bones another vehicle or hits some kid in a stroller or what have you. I always look for voids in the other lane when traffic is stopped in that lane because sure enough, someone will be coming thru there. It is nice to be courteous and let people merge, but it could cost someone their life too !!!