Man whose ‘best friend’ died in Pierce County wreck has been sentenced
A 24-year-old has been sentenced to 7 years, 9 months in prison for a deadly crash after trying to elude state troopers in Spanaway last year.
Joseph Krisologo Jr. pleaded guilty Friday to vehicular homicide for the crash that took place on Nov. 23, 2024, on Pacific Avenue South. Chad Fountaine, 50 of Graham, died in the wreck.
Prosecutors recommended 100 months while the defense recommended 86 months, according to Pierce Prosecuting Attorney’s Office Adam Faber via phone call.
Krisologo was driving in and out of traffic at a high speed in a 1992 Lexus sedan just before 5:30 p.m. when a pursuit by a Washington State Patrol trooper began, according to charging documents.
Sitting in the passenger side of the sedan was Fountaine.
Krisologo tried to elude police but lost control. His sedan collided into a 2013 Ford pickup. Documents show the trooper appeared to be ending the pursuit moments before the crash.
Fountaine died at the scene, documents show. The driver of the Ford was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries.
“Another officer on scene heard (Krisologo) make statements such as, ‘I just lost my best friend,’” charging papers said.
Fountaine died from multiple blunt-force injuries, and his manner of death was ruled an accident, according to the Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office in a news release.
As part of his sentence, Krisologo will have to undergo mental-health treatment and a chemical-dependency assessment, Faber said. His license has been suspended, and he cannot use drugs.
