LYNNWOOD — Xochilt Nieves sits without talking much, rewinding the tragic death of her husband in her head.
Carlos Alberto Garcia, 32, was trying to cross the busy seven-lane Highway 99 in the 18300 block of Lynnwood at about 3:30 p.m. Nov. 17 to ask his wife about purchasing a car, when he was hit by a motorcycle and died.
Nieves, and their three children, all under 3-years-old, were safely on the other side watching as the rider and her husband collided, throwing Garcia’s body at least 80 feet, witnesses said.
The motorcycle rider, Jeremy Molinda, 19, of Everett died at the scene as well and witnesses said the motorcycle slid for blocks.
The investigation closed about four blocks of the highway for more than three hours, slowing traffic and clogging side streets.
According to George Garcia (no relation), co-owner of Tequila Motors, Carlos Garcia had been looking at a car at his dealership before he was struck. A salesman had just showed Carlos Garcia a four-door brown Lincoln, and he asked the price.
“He was so excited. He just wanted to go ask his wife,” who was waiting across the street with their children, George Garcia said. “It’s just a horrible accident.”
Carlos Garcia almost made it all the way across the seven lane highway, George Garcia said. A car in the center lane stopped for Carlos Garcia, but Molinda apparently didn’t see him.
“His wife said the motorcycle just came out of nowhere and was going really fast, like 80 (mph) or more. Even if he saw him, it was too late.” George Garcia said.
The motorcyclist hit the brakes but couldn’t stop in time, witnesses said.
Lynnwood Police Sgt. Chuck Steichen said, “It’s evident the motorcycle rider was speeding … the length that the motorcycle traveled post-impact along with all the witnesses’ statements.” He added (Carlos Garcia) was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
“There’s so many things that had to come together for this to happen like this,” Steichen said.
According to Molinda’s friend, J.T. Shostad, 19, of Bothell, Molinda worked at a tile company and loved riding his bike.
“I knew something was bad when I saw that bike, even from way far away,” he said. “I guess he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.” Molinda likely was headed home.
Carlos Garcia and his family had recently moved from Denver, possibly for a job, George Garcia said. He added, the family is currently staying with Garcia’s brother and his family at a nearby apartment complex.
George Garcia said Nieves doesn’t speak English and the family had been trying to find a place of their own before the accident.
The owners and some employees at Tequila Motors along with members of the fire department have jumped in to help.
“She doesn’t talk much— she’s numb, still in shock,” George Garcia said about Nieves.
George Garcia and the others have gathered and delivered food and clothing for the young children and other products and said the family’s needs are high.
People from nearby businesses said several accidents have happened in that stretch of Highway 99, which is blocks from a crosswalk.
According to Steichen, this is the second fatality in this area of Highway 99 in a year. The other fatality occurred near the same spot almost a year ago exactly, a driver of a car hit and killed an elderly man.
“But aside from these two, there hasn’t been one in that area for a very long time,” Steichen said.
In the meantime, George Garcia said he doesn’t know if he could stand seeing another incident like this again.
“We keep recommending the city put in a stoplight or a crosswalk or something here,” Garcia said. “People keep trying to cross here. They don’t want to walk a long ways to the corner.”
According to police the accident remains under investigation with an update due out in the first couple weeks of December.
Herald reporter Katherine Schiffner contributed to this article.
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