UPDATE: Man found dead in single-car crash Tuesday was killed by gunfire, Fife police say
Update 9/14: According to a news release from Fife PD, the collision is being investigated as a homicide. The driver who was killed was identified as Rudolph King III, 23. King was killed by gunfire before the collision occurred. After being struck, his car went out of control, resulting in the collision.
The preliminary investigation indicates it was a random attack, the release said.
King was from Milton and a graduate of Pacific Lutheran University. He was on active-duty status as an officer with the Army National Guard.
Previous post: Fife detectives are investigating a fatal single-car crash that killed a man overnight.
According to a media release from the Fife Police Department, Fife police responded to the crash at the intersection of 70th Avenue East and 20th Street East near Wapato Way East Tuesday at about 9:31 p.m. The car was driving at a high rate of speed eastbound on 20th Street East prior to colliding with several light poles, trees and a fire hydrant.
Officers found the male driver unresponsive when they arrived at the incident scene. Tacoma Fire personnel also arrived and the driver was later declared dead, the release said.
The Pierce County Metro Collision Team responded and conducted an investigation along with Fife police detectives and personnel, the release said.
An active investigation is underway to determine the circumstances leading up to the crash. The investigation will also determine how and why it happened, the release said.
This story was originally published September 13, 2023 at 10:01 AM.
