The Tacoma Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating a vehicle of interest involved in the fatal collision that occurred Friday evening on State Route 509.
On Friday, December 19, 2025, at approximately 7:23 p.m., a Washington State Patrol trooper was struck by a vehicle while investigating an unrelated collision on the on-ramp to southbound SR-509 from Port of Tacoma Road. The initial impact caused the trooper to be thrown into the right travel lane of southbound SR-509, where the trooper was incapacitated and lying motionless in the roadway.
A short time later a second vehicle, a dark-colored pickup truck, struck the trooper in the right lane. That vehicle continued southbound on SR-509.
The vehicle of interest is described as a dark pickup truck, possibly black in color. It is believed to be either a Chevrolet Avalanche (four-door) or a Cadillac Escalade EXT-style pickup (four-door). The vehicle may have tinted windows, chrome door handles, and chrome running boards. No license plate information is available.
Anyone who witnessed the collision, observed the vehicle of interest, or may have dash-camera footage from southbound SR-509 in the area of Port of Tacoma Road around 7:20–7:30 p.m. is urged to contact investigators.
Tips can be directed to the Tacoma Police Department or submitted through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
This incident remains under active investigation.
Photos included are of the actual vehicle involved in this incident.
