A 23-year-old female driver died Tuesday morning after her vehicle struck another one on State Route 522 in Kenmore.
At about 7 a.m., Kristin Berry of Seattle was driving eastbound on the 6700 block of Northeast Bothell Way when she crossed a small median and struck a vehicle heading westbound, according to Sgt. Cindi West, King County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman. (The King County Medical Examiner’s office released Berry’s identification this afternoon.)
Berry died at the scene from multiple injuries, and two Bothell residents — a 15-year-old girl and her mother — were seriously injured after their SUV rolled over. They were transported to Evergreen Medical Center in Kirkland, West said, and were released that afternoon.
All westbound lanes were shut down and one eastbound lane was open during the investigation.
Tully’s Coffee employee Melinda Gladnick said the accident occurred just up the street from her spot, in front of Salon Zeka.
“One of my customers did pull one of the people from the vehicle when it was on fire,” Gladnick said. “He was on his way into the store, and there were two passersby who pulled one person from each side of the car.”
“It was really, really bad,” she added. “Engine parts everywhere.”
Alix Reske, who leases a space at Salon Zeka, arrived at work at 9 a.m. and said that traffic was still heavy near the business, which wasn’t open at the time of the accident.
Traffic was rerouted around the accident scene on Northeast 181st Street, according to nearby Epicenter Press owner Kent Sturgis.
The King County Sheriff’s Office Major Accident Response and Reconstruction Detectives are investigating the accident. At this time, detectives do not believe the weather was a factor.
This story will be updated when more information becomes available.