FEDERAL WAY, Wash. — A 22-year-old Renton man was charged with vehicular homicide and reckless endangerment in connection with a multiple-car collision on Interstate 5 last year that killed a truck driver.
Prosecutors said Stephen J. Palmer was impaired by alcohol and marijuana when he lost control of his Nissan Altima last November near Federal Way and crashed into a guardrail.
After Palmer and three passengers exited his car, a second car collided with Palmer’s car, which was in the road. The second car came to a stop on the shoulder.
Police said moments later, the driver of a tanker truck, Joseph Bartkowski, came upon the crash scene and swerved to avoid Palmer’s car in the road, but he was unable to keep the heavy truck on the highway.
The tanker truck, which was carrying aviation fuel, hit a barrier wall and burst into flames, killing its driver.
KIRO
