Kent driver involved in fatal head-on collision

A 56-year-old Auburn woman was killed and two men were hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries Sunday evening after their two cars were struck head-on by a pickup truck on 108th Avenue Southeast near the Kent-Renton border.

The pickup was driven by a 21-year-old Kent man.

According to Renton police, the pickup driver crossed over from the northbound lane on 108th Avenue Southeast (the Benson Highway) at Southeast 190th Street and into the southbound lane, striking first a car in which the Auburn woman was a passenger and then a second car that was also southbound on Benson.

The pickup then continued northbound for about 50 yards, finally stopping in the northbound lanes of Benson. Renton Police Commander Paul Cline said the collision closed Benson Highway for six hours.

The Renton Police Department responded to the collision at 5:49 p.m. Sunday.

The Renton Police Department Traffic Unit is investigating the collision.

Cline said the preliminary investigation indicates that the 21-year-old driver was speeding and may have been drinking alcohol.

Cline said the 21-year-old driver was arrested for investigation of vehicular homicide and vehicular assault and booked into the Renton City Jail Monday after he was released from Harborview Medical Center.

Cline said the suspect is expected to be charged Tuesday, after which he will be transferred to King County Jail.

The Auburn woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The 21-year-old suspect and the drivers of the first and second vehicles struck were all taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The Kent driver of the second vehicle struck was released from an unknown hospital Sunday night. Cline was not sure Monday if the Auburn driver of the first vehicle struck had been released from Harborview.