UPDATED at 3:35 p.m.
The Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the 51-year-old Gig Harbor woman killed in Sunday night’s crash as Candice A. Baima.
UPDATED at 12:40 p.m.
A 51-year-old Gig Harbor woman was killed and her teenage passenger injured Sunday night when a pickup truck crossed into oncoming traffic on state Route 302 and hit their SUV head on, the Washington State Patrol reported.
The teenage girl was taken to Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital and Health Center for treatment of her injuries. The pickup driver, a 63-year-old Vaughn man, also was injured and taken to a local hospital for treatment, troopers report.
The State Patrol described both of their injuries as minor.
Troopers suspect the pickup driver was impaired at the time of the crash. His blood was drawn and he”s being investigated on possible vehicular homicide charges, troopers report.
The crash occurred about 8:20 p.m. Sunday on SR 302 at 144th Street Northwest.
The pickup truck was going east on SR 302. It crossed the centerline at 144th Street Northwest and struck the Gig Harbor woman’s SUV, troopers report.
The woman, who was driving, died at the scene.
The crash blocked the roadway until after 11 p.m.
SR 302claims another life. Not a surprise to anyone who has traveled this route. The highway is two lane with several winding sections that are not safe at the maximum posted speed limit, which many drivers seem to ignore.
SR 302 is an extremely dangerous winding road that is mostly posted at 50 MPH as it twists through the woods and along the waterfront, from Purdy on SR 16 to Allyn west of Case and Carr Inlets on the Peninsula. It is a beautiful scenic drive on the occasional sunny days, however, the view is not worth dying for.
very true, slyfed, however if this accident happened @ 302 & 144th, it was on the perfectly straight stretch in Purdy by the Chevron that was once Paul’s Towing (is it still?)
BTW, thanks for the actual cross street Stacy!
slyfed, it’s not SR 302 that has claimed another life, it’s yet another drunk/high driver that has claimed another life. They make me sick.
To margegunderson. If your referring to High most Weed smokers don’t drive very Fast and usualy stay Home at Night. Just saying
Buttman:
It is possible that the driver was high on something besides weed. Just saying.
Our Pierce County Public safety and Human Services Committee had a hearing this afternoon on DUI data and policies here in Pierce County. Our policies have resulted in less deaths and other improvements these past few years, but we have a long way to go to protect the lives of our friends and families on the road.
A tragic loss. Candice was a friend and I know her children through the 4-H Youth Development program. Why can’t we learn to put drunk drivers behind bars BEFORE they kill innocent people?
Cat was an amazing woman. I will miss her too. My heart goes out to the children and too my friend Traci. The “moms” were an inspiration to all parents.