SnoCo Woman Blamed In Crash That Killed 3 In Pierce County

ROY, WA - Three people from the Los Angeles area were killed in a two-car crash and brush fire that happened Monday evening in rural Pierce County. A Lynnwood woman was arrested after the crash on three counts of vehicular homicide and DUI.

The crash happened around 4:30 p.m. Monday along SR 702 in southern Pierce County. Amber Smithlin, 36, was driving a minivan southbound on 8th Avenue South when she blew a stop sign and hit a small SUV. A 4-year-old boy in Smithlin's car was not wearing a seat belt and was injured.

There were four people in the Toyota RAV4, and only two were wearing seat belts. The driver, Miles Ki, 59, of Buena Park, Calif., was injured. His passengers, Kum Ki, 70, and Dong Ki, 67, both of Fullerton, Calif., died at the scene, as did a third yet unidentified 58-year-old woman from Buena Park.

According to state patrol, after hitting the RAV4, Smithlin hit a street sign and a utility pole. The pole fell on a nearby field, setting it on fire. After getting hit by Smithlin, the RAV4 went over an embankment and flipped over onto its roof.

The brush fire spread to about 10 acres before firefighters got it under control.

SR 702 was closed fro more than six hours after the crash due to the fire response and investigation.

Image courtesy Washington State Patrol