Man, 24, killed after pickup rolls off 300-foot cliff

CARBONADO, WA (PIERCE COUNTY) – A man died on Saturday from injuries he sustained in an accident on Friday in Pierce County, when the vehicle he was in rolled over a 300-foot cliff.

KOMO News reports that the victim, an unnamed 24-year-old man, was a passenger in a black 1974 Ford pickup truck driven by a 20-year-old man. Around 11 p.m. on Friday, the truck traveled off the side of National Forest Road 7810, rolling over more than ten times and landing against a tree.

The driver was able to escape the wreckage and get help, but his passenger was trapped and knocked unconscious in the drop down the 300-foot cliff.

The steep cliff and difficult terrain required the assistance of more than 20 emergency responders to extricate the passenger from the wreckage, which involved high-angle ropes and cutting off the top of the truck.

The victim was airlifted to the hospital and died there Saturday from injuries sustained in the accident.

The driver appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, according to officials, despite being too young to legally drink.

He is being held in Pierce County Jail on charges of Vehicular Homicide, with possible DUI charges pending following the results of a blood test.

This is one in a series of reports provided by Caffee Accident & Injury Lawyers as a service to inform our Seattle neighbors about traffic news and accidents in the area. Many of these accidents are preventable, and we hope that by reporting on such events, we will reduce the frequency of similar incidents. However, if you or someone you know has been injured in a similar situation, contact the Seattle car accident injury attorneys of Jeffrey R. Caffee today for a consultation. You may be able to receive compensation for lost wages, medical bills, and other expenses.