A high-speed vehicle crash killed a 17-year-old Kent boy Tuesday evening along West Valley Highway near Frager Road South in Kent.
Tyrenn Smith died from multiple blunt force injuries, according to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office. Smith was a passenger in the single-car crash, according to Kent Police.
All three occupants of the vehicle were 17 years old and from the Kent area, said Kent Police Assistant Chief Jarod Kasner in an email. A 17-year-old boy drove the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe, a compact SUV. The SUV left the road and struck a light pole.
Officers were dispatched at about 5:40 p.m. June 2 to a report of the crash, according to a Kent Police Facebook post.
A witness told police they observed two vehicles originally stopped for traffic facing southbound in the 27000 block of West Valley Highway. An unknown colored vehicle hit the rear bumper of a silver vehicle and then made a U-turn to go northbound on West Valley Highway. The silver vehicle that was struck also turned around and started following the vehicle that struck it.
The witness said the vehicles were passing cars on the right and it appears may have reached speeds over 80 mph in a 40 mph zone. In the area of Frager Road South and West Valley Highway, the chasing (silver) vehicle lost control and left the roadway. The crash site is just south of the Green River and LA Fitness.
Officers arrived and found three teens inside the vehicle, according to police. Puget Sound Fire and medics were also dispatched to the scene. Life-saving efforts on Smith were not successful. Paramedics transported the other two teens to area hospitals. The fleeing vehicle was not located.
The Kent Police traffic unit was called out to investigate the circumstances that resulted in the fatal crash. Anyone who may have information or who may have seen the other involved vehicle is asked to call police at 253-856-5808. As of Wednesday afternoon, the vehicle had not yet been located, Kasner said.
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