A pedestrian was struck and killed by a pickup truck while walking on State Route 167 near Puyallup Wednesday morning during rush hour traffic.
The fatal collision occurred at 6:32 a.m. just south of 44th Street East, forcing closure of the highway between 50th Avenue East and 44th Street East. The road has since reopened.
Washington State Patrol Trooper John Dattilo confirmed the pickup truck driver was traveling toward Puyallup when the vehicle hit the pedestrian who was walking in the roadway. The victim died from injuries sustained in the crash.
The pickup truck driver immediately pulled over and cooperated with investigators. Officials confirmed the driver was not impaired at the time of the collision.
Investigators are examining whether a garbage truck may have also struck the victim after the initial collision. The garbage truck driver also stopped and is cooperating with the investigation, according to state patrol officials.
The incident occurred during morning commute hours on the major regional corridor that connects Tacoma and Auburn, creating traffic impacts during the highway closure. State patrol continues investigating the circumstances that led to the pedestrian being on the busy highway.
The crash highlights ongoing safety challenges on State Route 167, where high-speed traffic and frequent commercial vehicles create dangerous conditions for pedestrians who may be on the roadway due to vehicle breakdowns or other emergencies.
