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Kent man, 66, dies in three-vehicle crash along Kent-Kangley Road

He was driving Ford Mustang that crossed into the oncoming lanes Friday night, Jan. 10

A 66-year-old Kent man was killed after a three-vehicle collision Friday night, Jan. 10 in the 12400 block of SE Kent-Kangley Road.

Ricky Eldon Ballard died of multiple blunt force injuries, according to the Jan. 13 King County Medical Examiner’s Office media report.

Officers and Puget Sound Fire firefighters responded at about 8:01 p.m. to numerous 911 calls about a serious injury crash, according to a Jan. 13 Kent Police news release. Witnesses reported one vehicle was on fire.

Bystanders who witnessed the crash pulled Ballard, who was unresponsive, out of the driver’s seat of the burning vehicle and immediately began to deliver aid, according to police. The bystanders applied automated external defibrillator (AED) pads just prior to officers and firefighters arriving and taking over lifesaving efforts. Despite the medical aid, Ballard died at the scene.

It was later determined that the Kent man was the driver at fault, according to police. There reportedly were indications that alcohol was a factor.

The initial evidence gathered by officers indicates that Ballard, driving a blue Ford Mustang, was headed eastbound on Kent-Kangley Road, crossed into the oncoming westbound lanes near 124th Avenue SE, hit the north curbing and then collided with two westbound vehicles, according to police. The driver of one of those vehicles was treated for injuries at the scene. No other injuries were reported.


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