成人X站

CRIME BLOTTER

Teen dies after car plunges into Lake Washington; sister faces vehicular homicide charge

Nov 20, 2024, 4:35 PM | Updated: Nov 22, 2024, 12:53 pm

Diver rescued a 17-year-old girl from a car that plunged into Lake Washington at the Atlantic City ...

Diver rescued a 17-year-old girl from a car that plunged into Lake Washington at the Atlantic City Boat Ramp Saturday evening. (Photo: Seattle Fire Dept.)

(Photo: Seattle Fire Dept.)

A 17-year-old girl has died after a car she and her sister were in plunged into Lake Washington Saturday, (SPD) stated Wednesday. Now, the charges her 20-year-old sister is facing could be elevated.

The 17-year-old was with her 20-year-old sister in a car at the Atlantic City Boat Ramp at Be’er Sheva Park in Rainier Beach, when the car rolled into the lake just before 6:00 p.m., according to officers.

Authorities said she was in the lake for more than 30 minutes before Seattle Fire Department (SFD) divers were able to bring her to the surface. Police said the older sister was able to make it out of one of the submerged car鈥檚 windows.

“She said her 17-year-old sister was actually in the water,鈥 Seattle Police Department (SPD) Detective Brian Pritchard told 成人X站 7.

SFD crews worked side-by-side with the SPD’s Harbor Patrol to locate the teen. Four divers and two rescue boats were launched.

After the rescue swimmers reached the 17-year-old, they brought her to medics on shore who worked on her, administering lifesaving measures. Court documents indicate the temperature of the water in Lake Washington was around 54 degrees.

“The victim was located approximately 10 feet from the shoreline and she was underwater,” SPD Detective Eric Munoz said.

An ambulance then transported the 17-year-old to Harborview Medical Center. She was reportedly on life support before she was confirmed dead Wednesday. Medics with a private ambulance company transported the 20-year-old sister to the hospital.

One eyewitness said he heard people yelling and first thought they were just goofing around but then he spotted the car, almost entirely submerged.

“I thought there was nothing wrong because sometimes people are drunk and playing,鈥 Ben Salehi told 成人X站 7.

The dark of night was a factor in how long it took rescuers to reach the teen.

鈥淰isibility made it challenging because it鈥檚 so dark and the visibility in the water and underneath the surface of the water is so low that that also makes it difficult,鈥 SFD Spokesperson Kaila Lafferty told 成人X站 7.

Firefighters assisted rescuers by raising two aerial ladders with lights over the boat launch to illuminate the scene.

20-year-old faces charges after car plunges into Lake Washington

It鈥檚 unclear how the car ended up between two docks at the boat launch, approximately 30 to 40 feet from the shoreline. Investigators believed alcohol or drugs were involved.

鈥淥fficers actually tested the 20-year-old female for impairment and found she did have signs of impairment,鈥 Pritchard said. 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 be around water if you鈥檙e drinking or impaired in any kind of way. It鈥檚 just a recipe for a nightmare.鈥

In court Monday afternoon, the judge found probable cause for the crimes of vehicular assault and DUI. Court records indicate the older sister admitted smoking marijuana.

鈥淪he was evaluated by a drug recognition expert, and they believe she was impaired so we developed probable cause to place her under arrest for vehicular assault,鈥 Munoz said.

Now that the younger sister has died, charges could be elevated.

鈥淭hat does depend on the investigation and the circumstances of everything, but we could see the elevation of a charge to vehicular homicide,鈥 Douglas Wagoner with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said.

This story was originally published on Nov. 17 at 11 a.m. It has been updated and republished since then.

Contributing: Julia Dallas, MyNorthwest

Tom Brock is a reporter, editor and anchor at 成人X站 Newsradio. You can read more of Tom鈥檚 stories here.

James Lynch is a reporter at 成人X站 Newsradio. You can read more of James鈥 stories聽here. Follow James on聽, or email him聽here.

Crime Blotter

Image: A King County Sheriff's Office vehicle can be seen parked in a lot....

James Lynch

King County sees safest start to year since 2019 as shots fired drop significantly

King County's first quarter 2025 shows a significant drop in shots fired, marking the safest start since 2019.

2 hours ago

A road sign warns of moose (Photo by Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images)...

Sofia Silvia

Man dies after collision with moose near Chewelah

A person is dead after hitting a moose in their car four miles north of Chewelah.

9 hours ago

coyote ridge inmate assault...

MyNorthwest Staff

Coyote Ridge inmate dies following cell assault

An inmate at Coyote Ridge Corrections Center died while in custody after an assault on April 29, the Department of Corrections confirmed.

9 hours ago

kent sexual assault lake fenwick park...

Frank Sumrall

Kent Police investigating sexual assault at Lake Fenwick Park, seeking witnesses

The Kent Police Department (KPD) is investigating a sexual assault that occurred at Lake Fenwick Park last week.

9 hours ago

newcastle shooting...

Shawn Garrett, 成人X站 7 News

14-year-old boy among three killed in Newcastle shooting identified

King County Medical Examiner identifies three killed, including a 14-year-old boy, in Thursday night's Newcastle shooting tragedy.

1 day ago

Bellevue police are asking for help after a strong armed robbery....

James Lynch

‘They shoved her to the ground’: Bellevue PD detail strong armed robbery of 68-year-old

Two men sought after strong-armed robbery near Factoria Mall. Bellevue PD urges community to help with information.

1 day ago

Teen dies after car plunges into Lake Washington; sister faces vehicular homicide charge