Woman killed when driver lost control on SR 7, struck tree

A woman was killed Sunday when the SUV she was riding in hit a tree near Eatonville, according to the Washington State Patrol.

A 29-year-old Gig Harbor man was driving north on state Route 7 about 5:25 p.m. when the SUV left the highway at 453rd Street East and hit a tree, about two miles south of Eatonville.

His passenger, a 29-year-old Kent woman, died. Officials identified her as Diana Hays.

The driver was taken to St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma.

The 2007 Nissan Xterra was totaled.

Troopers said drugs and alcohol are not believed to be involved in the crash, but have not determined what caused the driver to lose control of the SUV.

The highway was blocked for more than three hours during the investigation.

This story was originally published July 23, 2018 at 8:26 AM.