Driver fatally strikes pedestrian in Puyallup, drives into a drug store Tuesday morning
A 41-year-old driver has been arrested for fatally striking a pedestrian and then crashing into the side of a Walgreens in Puyallup on Tuesday morning.
Puyallup police and Central Pierce Fire & Rescue were dispatched at 9:19 a.m. to a Walgreens on the 4000 block of South Meridian for reports of a vehicle-versus-building crash. When they were responding , witnesses told police that a “passenger” flew out of the vehicle just before it collided with the drug store, according to a Puyallup Police Department news release.
A severely injured male was located unconscious in a flowerbed on the east side of South Meridian. After attempting life-saving measures, Central Pierce Fire a personnel pronounced the man deceased, the release said.
Police confirmed that the vehicle hit the Walgreens and caused minimal damage. After officers questioned the driver, they arrested him for driving under the influence and vehicular homicide. He was taken to the hospital before being booked at Pierce County Jail, the release said.
The release said that officers determined through a preliminary investigation that the the pedestrian was walking on the sidewalk northbound on South Meridian. The driver struck him from behind, then crossed all lanes of South Meridian before hitting the Walgreens.
The Metro Cities Major Collision Response Team will investigate the incident.
The Pierce County Medical Examiner’s will work to identify the deceased man.
This story was originally published February 20, 2024 at 10:36 AM.
