CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: Deadly West Seattle Bridge crash, 4 weeks later

| Crime | West Seattle news

(SDOT camera image from shortly after crash)

Four weeks ago today, two 18-year-olds died in a crash on the West Seattle Bridge. They were killed early March 22nd by a wrong-way driver going eastbound on the westbound lanes. Readers have been asking what’s happened since then. The wrong-way driver, who survived, is still at Harborview Medical Center, listed in satisfactory condition. We don’t know much about him other than that he is 36 years old and has a West Seattle address. He is not yet charged, and the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is not commenting on the status of the case, but police have said he will be booked into the King County Jail when discharged from the hospital. There’s no indication of how soon that will happen, as we don’t have details of his injuries, just his condition. The victims, Khalea Thoeuk and Riley Danard, have been lain to rest and remembered at a memorial service in Snohomish County.

Lola April 20, 2023 (7:43 am)

From the amount of calls from People on the day that this happened to the amount of stuff he hit in the process, plus the killing of two young people he should never get out of prison. Our laws need to change for Drunk Drivers and the idiotic stuff that they do. Take away their license never to be able to get one again.

CarDriver April 20, 2023 (11:46 am)

Lola. There should be MUCH tougher laws going after DUI drivers. Sad reality is that there’s so many of them and so many that haven’t been caught yet getting something passed is tough as these people will never support or vote for tougher laws. They only support laws and penalties that affect “those other” impaired drivers, not them.
Reed April 20, 2023 (4:52 pm)

Sadly that will do nothing to prevent them from getting behind the wheel of a car.

Chrissy April 20, 2023 (11:03 am)

Im sorry for the loss of the 18yr.old. Its really sad to read and hear about all the deadly things that are happeni ng all around us..

KD April 20, 2023 (8:54 pm)

Another add to the ‘I always wonder..’ column; whenever there is crime that can be prevented and the perps are injured and in the hospital (this one a whole month!) who pays the bills? Most criminals don’t have awesome jobs with awesome health benefits to cover the astronomical costs. He is obviously getting medical care. Is it passed onto the rest of society who does responsibly have health insurance, hence why our bills and co-pays are so high?? Just fricken amazing he has care for his self induced injuries and two innocents are passed away #NotFair&Infuriating

WSresident April 21, 2023 (6:56 am)

Well I can say with certainty Medicare has a LOT of money coming in from foreign workers who pay into the program but can’t use it.
Lisab April 21, 2023 (9:51 am)

I couldn’t agree more. Absolutely sickening.
Neighbor May 8, 2023 (10:55 am)

“Most criminals don’t have awesome jobs with awesome health benefits to
cover the astronomical costs.”Citation needed. You don’t know anything about this driver. This is the danger in applying “common sense”. “He is obviously getting medical care.”Yes, of course he is, why would he not get medical care? We aren’t barbarians.”Is
it passed onto the rest of society who does responsibly have health
insurance, hence why our bills and co-pays are so high??”It depends on how this is covered but yes, the cost will be passed on to whoever pays the bill. That’s the same with or without insurance. But this is not why our medical costs are so high in general.

Admiral April 21, 2023 (8:12 am)

KD agreed!

KD April 22, 2023 (6:15 am)

Anyone in the health and health insurance field know WHO and HOW does this guy and others like him (situation) pays for his medical stay and recovery?? Literally must be at least half a million (uneducated guess) by now. Grrrrrrrr..!!!

Trent R. April 30, 2023 (4:37 pm)

Any update on the person who caused this crash? Well over a month later I am starting to think we will never learn anything more about this. Not sure where else to find info on this – thank you for continuing to check in on this though.

WSB April 30, 2023 (5:32 pm)

Since the short update on which you’re commenting, as far as I know (will be checking again this week) the suspect remains in the hospital. I am continuing to check
-with hospital
-with prosecutors
-court files online
-jail roster
- Ks May 8, 2023 (8:48 am)
  
  Really not sure why they still won’t release the identify of the driver. It has been a long while. Why are they protecting him? The world should know who did this horrific thing. He should not be protected.
- Andy May 9, 2023 (1:30 am)
  
  Thank you for continuing to pursue this.
- LG May 9, 2023 (9:32 pm)
  
  Is it normal to release so little information? Is this a very important figure or someone they are protecting? Thanks for the follow up.
  - WSB May 10, 2023 (10:12 pm)
    
    The driver is in the hospital. As far as I can tell from what little I can find about him, no, he’s not an “important figure.” Not releasing someone’s name doesn’t mean they’re being “protected”; he has not yet been charged.

Sorry, comment time is over.