Officials identify 2 killed in fiery six-vehicle crash in Parkland

Two people who died Sunday when an SUV drove the wrong way up an off ramp and down state Route 512 in Parkland were identified Monday.

Washington State Patrol troopers are trying to figure out why one of those killed, Robert Delacruz, 37, of Tacoma, traveled so long against traffic and collided with six other vehicles.

Delacruz, who was thrown from his SUV, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The second person killed, Jonathon Vivar, 35, Puyallup, died after Delacruz’s vehicle hit his head-on as Vivar traveled east on state Route 512 just west of state Route 7.

The crash took place about 3:45 p.m. on the off ramp from Pacific Avenue to state Route 512 when Delacruz hit the first vehicle as it exited the freeway.

He then sideswiped two other vehicles as he headed west in the eastbound lanes of the highway and hit a fourth vehicle head-on, trooper Todd Bartolac said.

Delacruz then continued driving west in the wrong lanes and hit a fifth vehicle before striking Vivar’s car head-on and his car erupting into flames.

A 23-year-old Buckley man in the fifth vehicle and a 29-year-old University Place woman who was a passenger in Vivar’s car were taken to hospitals with unknown injuries. At least one required surgery.

A 6-year-old University Place girl in the wreck was taken to Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital as a precaution.

This story was originally published March 21, 2016 at 9:02 AM with the headline "Officials identify 2 killed in fiery six-vehicle crash in Parkland."