SAMMAMISH, Wash. — The parents of 16-year-old Taylor Griffith told KIRO 7 their son was on his way home from the family landscaping business Sunday when his truck collided with an SUV, killing Redmond’s former police chief.
Griffith died in the head-on crash.
Former Redmond Police Chief Steve Harris died, and his wife Margaret is in critical condition at Harborview Medical Center. Their Ford Explorer was hit head-on by Griffith’s truck, according to police.
The Eastlake High School student was driving his Dodge Dakota pickup, which he'd received for his 16th birthday back in May.
"The smile on his face when we gave him that truck was priceless, cause that's all he wanted was a truck,” said Jackie Griffith, Taylor’s mother.
"He worked hard, he was a good kid, and he died in that truck that he loved,” she said.
Police say Griffith was going east on State Hwy 202 when he crossed the road--and hit a Ford Explorer.
"It's terrible. It's a tragedy. We're broken,” said Ken Griffith, Taylor’s father.
Ken Griffith told us his son was an experienced driver who'd been driving on private roads with his father for years.
"It doesn't matter right now, how it happened. I want to know eventually, yes. But right now, we just need to grieve the loss of our son," said Jackie Griffith.
Police tell us the cause of the crash is still under investigation.
KIRO
