Two struck, killed by car outside Arlington tavern

ARLINGTON — A man and a woman were struck and killed by a sport utility vehicle at around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday while running across Smokey Point Boulevard at 188th Street NE.

The couple had just finished dining at the Longhorn Tavern and were returning to their car, which was parked across the street, Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Jan Jorgensen said.

Both were in their mid-40s, and the woman was from Arlington. Police did not yet know where the man was from.

The 37-year-old Arlington woman who was driving the northbound Toyota 4-Runner that hit the two isn’t likely to be charged, Jorgensen said.

"It was just a terrible accident," Jorgensen said. "The lighting out here is limited, and it was raining and very dark. They were probably running to get out of the rain."

Maury Fogle, owner of the Longhorn Tavern, said the couple were there for the first time for "Taco Tuesday." They had come with another couple who are regulars, he said.

Fogle said the friends were standing outside the tavern near the edge of the road when they said goodbye, and the couple turned to walk across the street and were struck by the 4-Runner.

"There was nothing (the driver) could do," he said. "They stepped right in front of her."

Fogle said the tavern was closed at around 10 p.m.

"Everybody’s just in shock here," he said. "This was not a good night."