4 p.m. Update: The names of the deceased from this morning’s accident have been released. The passenger was 23-year-old Jordan Swenson of Lynnwood. The driver was 23-year-old Matthew Diven of Brier (the State Patrol earlier reported he was from Tumwater.) Both were in the 2002 BMW 745 when it lost control on I-5 and crashed into an ambulance.
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A 23-year-old man from Lynnwood and a 24-year-old man from Tumwater were killed this morning in a collision on I-5 near Mercer Street in Seattle.
Witnesses reported seeing their silver BMW speeding around 2:45 a.m., just before it clipped another vehicle and spun out of control. The BMW then slammed into the rear of a moving Seattle Fire Department medic unit.
The Lynnwood man was the passenger in the car. Both men were pronounced dead at the scene. Their names have not been released.
“While the details are still under investigation, alcohol appears to be a factor in this tragic and preventable collision,” Trooper Christina Martin said.
The driver and passenger of the medic unit were taken to Harborview Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. The accident investigation shut down northbound I-5 for about four hours.
I feel no pity for these kids that drive drunk and get killed, only sadness. I hope they're all taken off the road, one way or the other, before they hurt or kill some innocent. I blame our judicial system for slapping these kids on the wrist and then letting them drive again. I've heard them laugh and talk about celebrating at the nearest bar after completing their court appointed rehab.
It's sad to me you feel no pity for these kids– because that's exactly what they are. Either you have no feelings at all and are just as much risk to society or you feel really smart posting shit like that on this article that will be read and HAS been read by their friends/ family. There are more victims in this situation then the two killed and one injured… you may want to keep that in mind next time you decide to post some insensitive remark. I hope you don't get the news that two of your friends have been killed in a car accident because trust me– it isn't fun.
They are kids in the fact that they have only been legal to drink for 2 years, but they are adults, and should be held accountable for their actions. I agree with KA that we need better consequences to keep drunks from behind the wheel before they kill someone else. It is tragic, that lives are lost in such a preventable manner.
The driver of that car was already cited for DUI a few years back and got a slap on the wrist by the judge. So now, not only did he cause tremendous grief for his family but also his friend's family, not to mention the two EMTs that were sent to the hospital with spinal and neck fractures, the loss of an emergency vehicle and causing the freeway to be shut down for 5 hours. How many medical emergencies were in that group of motorists? How many man hours and taxpayer dollars were used because these two yound MEN liked to go to Seattle and party? No, I have no pity, only deep sorrow that this continues to happen almost every weekend and yes, I have lost friends due to driving while under the influence, as have my children and our friends.
it pisses me off that people such as KA exist.. all you do is read news articles and smile at the loss of life or hope people get severely punished. It seems like you enjoy watching others suffer? Regardless of who the driver was or if he had previous DUIS, his family and friends are going through a rough time, so go spend the time you waste on hating on articles more productively..