Tukwila crash suspect charged; Investigators release details of collision aftermath

King County prosecutors have charged the man accused of running away after his SUV careened off a State Route 599 (SR 599) overpass and landed onto Interstate 5 (I-5).

Daud Mohamud was arrested on Friday following the crash that killed one and injured four others in Tukwila.

Charging papers state Mohamud has had more than 35 traffic infractions since 2013, plus three warrants issued since 2017.

Mohamud now faces a slew of new charges, including felony hit and run and driving with a suspended license.

Suspect in Tukwila crash skips court appearance

Mohamud skipped his first scheduled appearance before a judge. A defense attorney was there to speak on his behalf.

The Washington State Patrol (WSP) is continuing its investigation into the crash and has asked other witnesses to come forward. The agency said that on Friday at 10:15 a.m., the suspected driver lost control of a 2013 Toyota Highlander, and it plunged off the SR 599 overpass and onto I-5.

The Highlander hit three other vehicles, but no one in those vehicles suffered major injuries.

Investigators believe a passenger in the SUV was ejected from the vehicle as it flew off the overpass and was killed.

Moments before man suspected of Tukwila crash arrested

Investigators said it appears the driver was unconscious for a short time, but then woke up and tried to run away from the scene. Police said the 30-year-old suspect was not wearing shoes but had socks on. Officers also said he was covered in blood and ran into the woods.

A state patrol sergeant responding on the SR 599 overpass noted the unconscious person on the overpass had woken up and fled on foot.

He said a man in black clothing exited the tree line. The sergeant asked him if he was OK and the suspect told him he just needed to get to his sister. The trooper could tell, based on his injuries, that he had been involved in the collision and planned to take him back to the scene to be checked by medics.

Before putting the suspect in his vehicle, the officer conducted a pat down for weapons and felt what he assumed to be a wallet. The sergeant then opened his patrol car door, but the man refused to get in.

The suspect then stated he felt like he was going to throw up and asked to go to the bushes. The officer watched as the suspect walked to the bushes and then removed his hand from his pocket and threw his wallet. Officers recovered the wallet and determined the suspect’s identity.

Police said not only was the suspect in his stocking feet, but one of his toes was sticking out of the sock and a portion of the toe was missing. Investigators asked what kind of shoes he was wearing that day, and he stated he was wearing black Crocs. Detectives looked inside the vehicle and observed a pair of black Crocs in the driver’s side footwell.

The sergeant then went back to his patrol vehicle, read the suspect his rights and advised him that he was under arrest for hit-and-run. At that point, the suspect told officers he was not driving and that his friend, who had died in the crash, was behind the wheel. He said he had picked up his friend at his house near South 216th and then let him drive the SUV.

The suspect claimed he was in the back seat but had left his shoes in the driver’s seat area.

At Saturday’s preliminary hearing, a judge found probable cause for felony hit and run, an ignition interlock violation, and driving with a suspended license in the second degree. The judge did not find probable cause for vehicular homicide.

The court set the suspect’s bail at $100,000.

This story was originally published on March 9. It has been updated and republished since then.

Contributing: Aaron Granillo, KIRO Newsradio; Julia Dallas, MyNorthwest