July 21, 2023
FIFE, Wash. – A tragic scene unfolded early Wednesday morning when a Tacoma woman was struck and killed while riding her motorcycle on Interstate 5 in Fife. Washington State Patrol (WSP) detectives are seeking witnesses of the collision.
At approximately 3:16 a.m. on Wednesday, July 19, a white BMW M5 was traveling northbound in the HOV lane on I-5 near the 54th Avenue East overpass. In that same location, the Tacoma woman was riding her black Yamaha XVS1100 northbound in the HOV lane. The BMW struck the rear of the motorcycle, causing the rider to be ejected over the concrete barrier into the southbound lanes of I-5.
After striking the motorcycle, the BMW collided with the barrier and rolled onto its top. Immediately after the collision, the driver of the BMW fled the scene on foot.
The fleeing driver, described as a white male wearing black pants and a white shirt, and may have been bleeding, was later taken into custody for vehicular homicide and felony hit-and-run.
WSP detectives are seeking witnesses to the collision, as well as anyone who may have observed either of the involved vehicles before or after the crash. Witnesses to the collision, or anyone who may have additional information about the vehicles or their drivers are asked to contact Detective Tessa Schahfer via email at tessa.schahfer@wsp.wa.gov or by phone at (253) 538-3172.
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