Federal Way police are trying to determine if speed caused a driver to lose control and collide with a vehicle going the other way on Pacific Highway South.
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Federal Way police said the driver was driving southbound on Pacific Highway South near South Dash Point Road just before 2 p.m. Friday. Witnesses said the driver lost control, crossed the center line and collided with a maroon pickup truck headed northbound.
Three people were sent to the hospital, including the driver's two young children who were critically injured. The children are no longer in critical condition. Harborview Medical Center said the other passenger, the mother of one of the children, was treated and released.
Now those who know the victims are trying to accept the news.
"Ah, still in shock," said Thomisa Maldonado when asked how she is reacting to the fatal crash that claimed the life of her 20-year-old friend.
Eyewitnesses said the driver was speeding. Maldonado said that doesn't surprise her.
Maldonado identified the passengers as the driver's 21-year-old girlfriend, their eight-month-old daughter, and a two-year-old boy from the driver's previous relationship.
Maldonado said despite his love of speed, he loved his children more.
"So he wouldn't do anything to try to hurt them?" she was asked.
"No, no," she said. "And it was his first daughter. His first daughter. And he always wanted a daughter. That's the littlest one."
She is still coming to grips with what happened.
"I'm okay," she said. "I'm just trying to make sure Evelyn and the kids are okay."
Maldonado said the driver and his girlfriend were planning to be married.
As for the driver of the pickup, Federal Way police say he was not badly hurt.
Eyewitnesses told investigators the driver was speeding or racing or both. They are still trying to determine whether that caused the accident.