Man who died in head-on crash with Pierce Transit bus is identified by medical examiner

A 28-year-old man who was killed last week after his SUV crashed into a Pierce Transit bus was identified Tuesday by the medical examiner.

Tavita Siliga of Puyallup died of multiple blunt-force injuries, according to a news release from the Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office.

The crash occurred in Tacoma near the 700 block of East 32nd Street. According to Tacoma Police Department spokesman Wendy Haddow, Siliga was driving an SUV the evening of May 27 when he crossed the center line and hit a Route 42 Pierce Transit bus. Siliga was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to Pierce Transit, no one was inside the bus at the time of the crash besides the driver, who sustained minor injuries. The medical examiner’s report did not mention whether drugs or alcohol were involved in the accident.

This story was originally published June 1, 2022 at 1:14 PM.