Passenger dies after off-roading vehicle tumbles over 20 times down cliff
Nov 8, 2012, 3:06 PM | Updated: 3:43 pm
A man’s body was found in the woods after an accident in an off-roading area near Mount Rainier Wednesday night.
The vehicle rolled over a cliff about 20 or 25 times with the drive and a passenger inside.
The 21-year-old driver was able to get out of the car and went to find help for his passenger. He believed the passenger was trapped in the car, according to Pierce County Detective Ed Troyer.
It was 9 a.m. before the driver was able to contact 911, and Troyer said it was about 14 hours between the accident and when officers were able to reach the passenger.
When authorities got to the crash site, the passenger had crawled out of the car, possibly looking for help. It gave searchers hope that they’d find the passenger still alive.
It was just a short time later they found blood trail that lead them to the passenger who had already died.
Sheriff’s deputies are still investigating what led to the crash. The driver and passenger were both young men in their early 20’s, and at least one of them from the city of Auburn.
KIRO Radio’s Kim Shepard contributed to this report.
