Renton crash leaves 4 dead, 4 injured
RENTON, Wash. - Three children and a woman died after a crash Tuesday afternoon in Renton, deputies said. The crash also left four others critically injured in the crash.
Crews responded to a report of a serious vehicle crash at the intersection of 140th Ave. and S.E. 192nd St. just before 1 p.m.
When the first engine arrived, crews at the scene reported four cars were damaged and people were possibly trapped inside.
Additional units from Renton Regional Fire and King County's Medic One were requested for patient care, according to Puget Sound Fire Division Chief, Pat Pawlak.
On Wednesday, the King County Sheriff's Office identified the four people who died: A 38-year-old woman, two girls ages 13 and 12, and a 12-year-old boy.
Detectives identified the causing driver as an 18-year-old man, who was injured in the crash.
One of the cars appeared to have plowed against a tree after the impact; first responders rushed in and treated the situation as a mass casualty.
"We did call a mass casualty incident, the reason being, as we were looking at the number of patients that we had, it's the best way to get the needed resources for an incident," Pawlak said.
One of the SUV’s involved was flipped on it’s side; from a distance FOX 13 crews saw airbags had deployed.
The roadway has since reopened as investigators continue to piece together what happened. Residents in the area say it's a troubled spot. In fact, they say seeing ebri and taillights isn't unusual and speeding is a grave concern for them.
Katie Beck has been living off 140th since 2016. There's shattered glass all over the road following the wreck.
"It's a 45 mile per hour road; there shouldn't be fatalities, and we're a neighborhood," Beck said.
Despite the clear guidelines, families are haunted by the growing number of deadly accidents devastating their community. The last one Beck and Bruce Yahne recall happened two years ago. It killed an elderly couple. Their concerns are only mounting.
"I hear a loud car scream up and down the area on occasion," Yahne said.
"People take off from the light here, sometimes they’re racing each other, sometimes there’s just aggressive driving," Beck said.
Neighbors say the disregard for speed limits and competitive driving behaviors has them on edge.
"It’s scary even taking the garbage out. You’re afraid to get too close to the curb because people just go too fast," Beck said.
Walking out of her home and seeing the crash was difficult for Beck and her neighbors want something to be done to slow down speeders, especially with a school just up the road.
"They need to get tickets," Yahne said. "If they got more tickets, they wouldn't be doing this."
"Slow down, be safe," Beck said.
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Officials said the King County Sheriff's Office will be the lead police agency on this case. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Communications Center line at 206-296-3311. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.