MOUNTLAKE TERRACE — A 72-year-old Lynnwood-area man died after his car was hit Friday night by a driver fleeing from police.
The man’s name had not been released as of Saturday. His death marks the second time in less than two weeks that someone in Snohomish County has been struck and killed by a driver trying to evade police officers.
Rachael Kamin, 40, of Mukilteo, was hit late on May 12 while driving home from work through Everett by a man driving a stolen pickup truck. Kamin suffered severe head injuries and could not be saved.
Friday’s crash took place shortly after 8 p.m. at the intersection of 44th Avenue W. and 212th Street SW, Lynnwood police spokeswoman Shannon Sessions said. A 42-year-old woman was arrested for investigation of vehicular homicide.
The woman, a convicted felon who was wanted by police, may have been under the influence of drugs at the time of the wreck, Sessions said.
Just after 8 p.m. Friday a Lynnwood police officer spotted the woman’s white van traveling near 200th Street SW and Highway 99 in Lynnwood, Sessions said. A passenger in the van, a 55-year-old man, also was wanted by police on felony warrants.
The officer tried to stop the van but the woman sped away eastbound on 196th Street SW. The officer pursued the van for about two miles to the intersection where the collision occurred.
The woman’s van ran broadside into another white van, being driven by the 72-year-old man. He was rushed to Harborview Medical Center where he died about two hours later, Sessions said.
The man riding with the woman also was taken to Harborview with serious injuries.
The woman was taken to Swedish Medical Center’s Edmonds campus where she was treated, released and taken to the Lynnwood jail. She will be booked into the Snohomish County Jail for investigation of vehicular homicide and other crimes, Sessions said.
Lynnwood police closed down the intersection of 212th and 44th Friday evening to investigate. Anyone who may have witnessed the accident is asked to call the Lynnwood Police Department at 425-670-5600.
In the earlier incident, Kamin was headed home on Rucker Avenue from her job as a nurse at the south campus of Providence Regional Medical Center Everett when her Honda CRV was struck by the stolen full-size pickup truck. The police chase began more than 20 miles away in Bothell.
Joseph D. Strange, 33, was arrested and is being investigated for a potential first-degree murder charge.
Under state law, a person can be charged with first-degree murder if he or she causes a death “under circumstances manifesting an extreme indifference to human life.”
Herald reporter Eric Stevick contributed to this story.
Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439; sheets@heraldnet.com
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