UPDATE: Friends, family launch fundraiser for children of West Seattle couple killed in Burien crash; suspected DUI driver charged

3:47 PM: On Tuesday afternoon, two people were killed in a crash on Ambaum Boulevard in North Burien. We covered the crash on partner site White Center Now. The victims are now identified as a West Seattle couple, 35-year-old Lauren Dupuis-Perez and 38-year-old Kamel Dupuis-Perez, who lived with their two elementary-age children in Arbor Heights. A friend asked us to publish the link to the crowdfunding page set up for their family, which says in part:

We know they touched so many lives with their spirit for adventure, photography, their love for their children, travelling, and community. This tragic loss is incredibly sad for all of us and we send our love to you as you grieve the unimaginable. The brilliant energy and love that they infused into all of our lives is what motivates us now to continue their legacy of creating a safe, beautiful, and rich life for their children.

The page also has information on donating directly to their children’s school.

The 26-year-old suspected drunk driver accused of causing the crash is also a West Seattle resident. She remains in King County Jail, bail set at a quarter-million dollars. We’re expecting word on charges this afternoon from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

4:56 PM: Five felony charges have just been filed against Irene Plancarte-Bustos of South Delridge – two counts of vehicular homicide, two of hit-run, one of negligent driving. The charging documents say her 3 1/2-year-old son was in her car when she hit the victims’ car in the 11800 block of Ambaum, going about 60 mph in a 35 mph zone. He was not hurt. Deputies found her in a nearby mini-mart parking lot; she had not called 911 nor attempted to return to the crash scene. She has no known criminal record.

20 Replies to "UPDATE: Friends, family launch fundraiser for children of West Seattle couple killed in Burien crash; suspected DUI driver charged"

  • flimflam April 9, 2021 (4:33 pm)

    So sad to think of the young kids left without either parent. DUI is completely unnecessary, selfish and I have no sympathy whatsoever for the 25 year old who did this. She has a long life ahead of her while these two victims are gone forever. May she never forget the awful thing she has done.

  • 1994 April 9, 2021 (4:54 pm)

    Another tragedy where a driver with very poor judgement walks away — after killing 2 people. Just terrible!  So sorry for the families loss.

  • waikikigirl April 9, 2021 (6:20 pm)

    I cry for those 2 children who have lost their parents to one persons stupidity. That roadway is a very dangerous stretch on Ambaum driving drunk or not. I lost my nephew in that same spot on his 21st birthday he was a passenger and the driver, driving drunk in an excess of 80 MPH on a cold icy winter night. Driver and one other passenger lived…

    • waikikigirl April 10, 2021 (12:00 pm)

      I also feel for the 3 1/2 year old who hardly knows his mom but just enough to know she’s no longer in his life and can’t understand why.Hope she has learned from her mistake.

      • Selfdoubt April 13, 2021 (8:10 am)

        No joke. My heart aches for her boy and the two children left behind.  This is quite the tragic story and leaves me wondering….what is the silver lining in this one? I hope both families are able to heal. 

  • Auntie April 9, 2021 (6:28 pm)

    This is so sad! Not only did those two children of Lauren and Kamel lose their parents, but now Irene’s little boy is going to all but lose his mother. A totally unneccessary tragedy all around.

  • Machel Spence April 9, 2021 (6:32 pm)

    We live in the complex where it happened in front of and I was so saddened to read this, we knew by seeing the vehicles out front it was most likely fatal but we had no idea. I’m so sorry for the two children and family left behind, it’s an unnecessary tragedy and it sounds like they will be greatly missed. 

  • Jort April 9, 2021 (8:29 pm)

    Some day, we as a society will realize that allowing drivers to operate vehicles at such excessive, deadly speed is not worth the price our citizens pay in injury and death. It is long past time that we invest in technology to mandatorily and forcibly limit this kind of family-destroying behavior.

    • Matt P April 10, 2021 (9:46 am)

      How would this work?  Automatically governing engines based on the current speed limit like some companies do with their company vehicles (although they only limit top speed not speed based on the current road)?  I’m all for it as I drive the speed limit, but there would be howls from all the self-important people who just have to get somewhere 5 seconds faster who I often meet at the next traffic light anyway.

    • DB40 April 10, 2021 (10:26 am)

      This is a horrible tragedy. Your sanctimonious opinion is inappropriate and insensitive.

  • jissy April 9, 2021 (9:43 pm)

    Thinking too of the innocent driver in the red truck who I know I’m sure is also struggling with physical and emotional injuries.  What do we know about that driver?

    • WSB April 9, 2021 (9:59 pm)

      Only that she was driving SB on Ambaum, on her way home from work, when the victims’ NB car was hit and pushed into her truck’s path. No mention of her age or hometown; she is not suspected of any wrongdoing. She was treated for what were described as minor injuries.

  • CarDriver April 10, 2021 (7:10 am)

    JORT. Waiting to see you on TV with your ideas.

  • Scubafrog April 10, 2021 (9:10 am)

    That’s so awful.  60mph in a 35.  “The suspect was found at a mini mart…”.  I feel so sad for the 2 kids whose parents are gone.  Sadly the perp will get much less time than she deserves.  She’ll be back leading her (likely) deadly, reckless life in our society, quicker than most would ever believe (for essentially what amounts to double murder). I just hope her son is taken by authorities, and raised by a good, caring family.

  • Jissy April 10, 2021 (9:30 am)

    Oh, yes…. I know she’s not accused of any wrong doing or at fault in any way but ultimately is who hit the blue car as a result of Bustos negligence – trauma that no one should have to live with at the fault of someone else.  

  • HeyItsMe April 12, 2021 (8:46 pm)

    There has been a Go Fund Me set up for the children of the parents involved in this horrific accident. https://gofund.me/776b5243

    • WSB April 12, 2021 (9:36 pm)

      Hi, thank you, that’s what the story is about – it’s linked twice above.

  • NTW April 15, 2021 (12:20 pm)

    Is there any gofundme for the boy whose mother is in jail now?

  • lena April 16, 2021 (12:14 am)

    there has been a gofundme set up for the boy whose mother is in jail https://gofund.me/dcf43806

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