Two Charged in Crash That Killed Teen Standing on Federal Way Sidewalk
King County prosecutors have charged a second driver in the Oct. 23 collision that killed 16-year-old Dee-Jay Tuiasosopo.
By Kenji Yamamoto ·
The Lexus was traveling more than 85 mph in a 45 mph zone when it left the road and hit the teen, who was thrown about 121 feet before dying at the scene.
King County prosecutors have charged Roberto Chris Emory, 29, and the 20-year-old driver of the Lexus with vehicular homicide. Emory also faces a DUI count and a charge for disregard for the safety of others. The crash happened at 10:45 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 23, at Pacific Highway South and South 304th Street, according to court documents.
Emory was turning left onto South 304th Street in a Ford F-150 when the Lexus changed into the carpool lane without signaling, court documents state. The Lexus driver swerved to avoid the truck but did not brake before the vehicles collided. The impact spun Emory's truck 180 degrees and sent the Lexus onto the southwest sidewalk, where it struck Dee-Jay Tuiasosopo, a student-athlete at Federal Way High School who had played in a football game about a block away earlier that evening.
Officers who responded found empty Hurricane IPA containers around Emory's truck and noted a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. Emory told officers he had drunk a tall can of the IPA, and a preliminary breath test registered a blood alcohol content of 0.170%, according to court documents. Emory remained at the scene. The Lexus driver also stayed, was contacted by law enforcement, and was later taken to a hospital for possible injuries.
Police have not arrested the Lexus driver. Prosecutors have requested an arrest warrant with $200,000 bail for that suspect. Emory remains jailed on $200,000 bail. Sources for the report include the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, court documents filed in King County Superior Court and the Federal Way Police Department.
More than 100 people gathered at the intersection over the weekend for a vigil. Dee-Jay's family wrote that his energy and presence reached beyond what they realized and that the family has learned how many lives he touched.
Source: KZJO
