According to WSP, a 29-year-old Bonney Lake man was stopped for traffic ahead when he was rear-ended by a driver who failed to slow down. The impact propelled the Bonney Lake man’s car forward and it crashed into a stopped semi-truck
Auburn, WA.- A Bonney Lake driver was killed when his car was crushed by a big rig on State Route 167 in Auburn on Thursday morning, according to the Washington State Patrol.
The wreck happened shortly before 7:14 a.m. December 11, 2025, on SR 167 and State Route 18.
According to WSP, a 29-year-old Bonney Lake man was stopped for traffic ahead when he was rear-ended by a driver who failed to slow down. The impact propelled the Bonney Lake man’s car forward and it crashed into a stopped semi-truck.
The car became wedged under the big rig after the accident and was fully engulfed in flames. Fire crews arrived at the scene shortly after and helped extinguish the fire.
The Bonney Lake driver was confirmed deceased at the scene.
The driver who rear-ended the car was identified as a 25-year-old from California. The driver was arrested on charges of vehicular homicide.
Alcohol and drugs were not believed to have played a role in the incident, the WSP reported. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Fatalities due to traffic colisions in King County avaraged 140 in the years between 2021 and 2023. The numbers had been constantly increasing yearly until the peak in 2023, when the county recorded 150 fatalities. Most fatal accidents occurred on state routes, especially State Route 522 and I-5, which are regarded as the deadliest in King County. This has majorly been attributed to numerous curved sections and high traffic volume that cause drivers to drift into oncoming traffic. According to the Washington State Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) data, state routes contributed to 28% of the fatalities recorded statewide in 2023. Other driver errors including speed, distracted driving, and drinking under the influence also continue to play a key role in these accidents, stressing the need for more sensitization to ensure drivers adhere to the set laws and keep road users safe.
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