Lakewood 20-year-old dies in crash near Kent Friday night, State Patrol says

A 20-year-old man from Lakewood died in a fatal crash around 9:05 p.m. Friday near Kent, according to the Washington State Patrol.

The man’s name was not released as of Saturday morning, and he was reported deceased at the scene, according to a WSP press release. Speed was listed as the cause of death, and the man was not wearing a seatbelt.

According to WSP, the man was traveling eastbound on State Route 516 approaching Meeker. He made a lane change to pass another vehicle at a high rate of speed, then lost control, sliding sideways into a ditch before the vehicle flipped and struck a metal post. The vehicle came to a rest on its top and the driver was ejected, the memo said.

The crash took place near the intersection of West Meeker Street and Kent Des Moines Road, according to WSP. The man was driving a green 1991 Honda Accord, which was totaled.

This is a breaking news story, check back for updates.

This story was originally published September 16, 2023 at 10:40 AM.

Becca Most

The News Tribune

253-274-7322

Becca Most is a reporter covering Pierce County issues, including topics related to Tacoma, Lakewood, University Place, DuPont, Fife, Ruston, Fircrest, Steilacoom and unincorporated Pierce County. Originally from the Midwest, Becca previously wrote about city and social issues in Central Minnesota, Minneapolis and St. Paul. Her work has been recognized by Gannett and the USA Today Network, as well as the Minnesota Newspaper Association where she won first place in arts, government/public affairs and investigative reporting in 2023.  Support my work with a digital subscription