'Inattention' Caused Alderton General Store Crash: WSP

PUYALLUP, WA - Police believe the driver of a dump truck that crashed into the Alderton General Store along SR 162 Wednesday afternoon was not paying attention. The driver and a pedestrian were both seriously injured in the crash.

The crash happened around 11 a.m. Wednesday near the intersection of SR 162 and 96th Street East. The dump truck, driven by Gunnar Pulliam, 60, of Graham, was heading eastbound when he left the road, hit a utility pole, and crashed into the side of the general store.

A pedestrian, Sun J. Yi, 61, of Puyallup, was injured in the crash. She was taken to Tacoma General Hospital for treatment. Pulliam was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center for treatment.

SR 162 was blocked for more than six hours due to an investigation - and to safely remove the truck from the side of the building.

Image courtesy WSP