Prosecutors: Driver in fatal Puyallup wreck had heroin in jail

A man whose passenger died in a Puyallup wreck Friday was charged with vehicular homicide Monday, and is accused of having heroin in a jail cell after his arrest.

In addition to the death of 60-year-old Steven Bruce Tew, Tyler Triplett, 55, is charged with driving with a suspended license and having drugs in the Pierce County Jail.

His arraignment is scheduled for Tuesday (April 19.)

The wreck happened shortly after 4 p.m., on southbound state Route 167, near state Route 512.

Charging papers give this account:

Triplett was driving a pickup with Tew as his passenger and hit an SUV stopped for traffic. That pushed the SUV into another vehicle that was stopped.

Tew, who was not wearing a seat belt, was thrown from the pickup and killed; Triplett suffered a broken sternum and clavicle.

The SUV was carrying two children, ages 13 and 1 1/2, who suffered minor injuries. The woman driving had possible injuries to her chest and arm.

Washington State Patrol troopers who responded to the wreck noted Triplett was hunched over as he walked near the vehicle, seemed confused and appeared impaired.

Triplett was taken to a holding cell at the jail, where officers found he had an candy tin containing heroin.

This story was originally published April 18, 2016 at 4:49 PM with the headline "Prosecutors: Driver in fatal Puyallup wreck had heroin in jail."