According to the WSP, Pearson was stopped for traffic ahead on northbound SR 167 when his car was hit from behind by a semi-truck driver who failed to slow down. The impact pushed Pearson’s car forward and it slammed into a pump-type truck that was also stopped ahead of him
Auburn, WA.- A Bonney Lake driver who was killed when his car was crushed by a semi-truck on State Route 167 in Auburn on Thursday morning has been identified as Robert Pearson, 29, according to the Washington State Patrol.
The wreck took place just before 7:14 a.m. December 11, 2025, on SR 167, just south of State Route 18.
According to the WSP, Pearson was stopped for traffic ahead on northbound SR 167 when his car was hit from behind by a semi-truck driver who failed to slow down. The impact pushed Pearson’s car forward and it slammed into a pump-type truck that was also stopped ahead of him.
Pearson’s car became wedged under the pump-type truck after the accident and was fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters arrived at the scene shortly after the crash and helped extinguish the fire.
Authorities reported that Pearson was declared deceased at the scene. The other two involved motorists were not hurt.
The driver of the semi-truck, identified as a 25-year-old from California, was arrested and booked into the King County Correctional Facility 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 collision 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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