Federal Way teen thrown 121 feet after two-car crash
Two drivers face homicide charges after a Lexus and a truck collided at a Federal Way intersection, killing a high school football player.
By Bianca Shevchenko ·
A 16-year-old boy was thrown 121 feet across a sidewalk and died at the scene after two vehicles collided in Federal Way, Wash., late Friday night. The crash, which occurred around 10:45 p.m. on Oct. 23 at the corner of Pacific Highway South and South 304th Street, has resulted in vehicular homicide charges against two drivers.
Court documents state that Roberto Chris Emory, 29, was driving a Ford F-150 when he turned left onto South 304th Street. A second driver, a 20-year-old man in a Lexus, reportedly changed into the carpool lane without signaling. The Lexus was traveling at more than 85 mph in a 45 mph zone. The Lexus driver swerved to avoid the truck but did not brake before the vehicles struck each other.
The impact spun Emory’s truck 180 degrees and sent the Lexus sliding onto the southwest sidewalk. The vehicle struck Dee-Jay Tuiasosopo, a student-athlete at Federal Way High School who had played in a football game approximately one block away earlier that evening.
Emory stayed at the scene, where officers noted a strong odor of alcohol on his breath and found empty containers of Hurricane IPA near his truck. Emory told police he had consumed a tall can of the beer. A preliminary breath test showed a blood alcohol content of 0.170%. The Lexus driver also remained at the scene and was later taken to a hospital for possible injuries.
More than 100 people gathered at the intersection over the weekend for a community vigil to honor Tuiasosopo. His family wrote that his energy and infectious presence reached far beyond what they realized. The family noted that through the tragedy, they learned how many lives Tuiasosopo touched.
King County prosecutors have formally charged Emory with vehicular homicide, DUI, and disregard for the safety of others. They have also charged the 20-year-old Lexus driver with vehicular homicide. Emory remains jailed on $200,000 bail. Prosecutors have requested an arrest warrant for the second driver, also setting bail at $200,000, though police have not yet made the arrest.
Source: KZJO
