Lacey, WA (May 19, 2021) - On Sunday, May 16, an 80-year-old woman was killed after the vehicle she was traveling in crashed into an embankment in the Lacey area.

According to local reports, the incident occurred at around 2:15 p.m. that afternoon. A 1999 Dodge Ram pickup truck was reportedly traveling westbound on WA-510 at the time of the fatal crash. When the 81-year-old Lacy man driving the vehicle was approaching the roundabout at Meridian Road SE, he failed to navigate the curve and left the roadway.

The pickup plunged into a nearly 400-foot embankment. The passenger, 83-year-old Paula A. Andrus of Lacey, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver was transported to Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia for the treatment of sustained injuries.

An ongoing investigation into the deadly accident is underway.

We would like to offer our deepest condolences to the family of Paula A. Andrus at this time. Our thoughts are with the injured victim and his family in hopes of a full recovery.

Fatal Auto Accidents in Washington

Vehicle collisions are the leading contributors to death and serious injury across the United States, with tens of thousands losing their lives each year in car crashes. According to the Washington State Department of Transportation, there were 111,449 reported car crashes in the state in 2019. These accidents contributed to 506 fatalities, meaning that at least one person was killed daily in vehicle collisions across the state that year.

A wrongful death lawsuit can be brought by a family member when a loved one has died due to the negligent behavior of another person. There are many potential situations that may warrant a wrongful death suit in Washington, including a car accident, medical malpractice, or even nursing home negligence. Washington state law allows a victim’s family or estate to recover compensation in the event of wrongful death in order to recover from damages resulting from the loss of a loved one.

If you believe that your loved one’s death may have been caused by another person’s negligence, you need to consult with an experienced Seattle wrongful death attorney. Dore Law Group will make sure that your interests and legal rights are protected through every step of the legal process, and our years of experience mean we can help you construct a strong case. Contact our offices today at (253) 236-3888 if you’ve lost a loved one in a deadly Washington car accident.

Note: Our law firm uses secondary sources to create this post. These outside sources include but are not limited to local news media outlets, local police reports, state police bulletins, social media outlets, and eyewitness accounts about serious accidents that take place in Kent, Tacoma, and Seattle. We do not verify all of the facts surrounding each accident, therefore, if you locate any information that is not correct, let us know, and we will correct our post to reflect the most accurate information available.