SEATTLE — The suspected driver in a deadly wrong-way crash that occurred on the West Seattle Bridge in March was charged with two counts of vehicular homicide on June 5.
Delfino Lopez-Morales, 36, was also charged with reckless driving for the crash that killed Riley Danard, 18, and Khalea Thoeuk, 18. Lopez-Morales will be arraigned June 15 in the King County Courthouse.
On March 22, the Seattle Police Department received multiple 911 calls of a white pickup truck traveling the wrong way in the westbound lanes of the West Seattle Bridge. The truck, which Lopez-Morales borrowed from a friend, drove over a concrete curb that divides the eastbound and westbound lanes, according to charging documents.
At mid-span, the truck crashed into the vehicle occupied by Danard and Thoeuk. According to charging documents, the truck was traveling at least 100 mph when the crash occurred.
Officers found a sedan and the pickup truck in the westbound lanes of the bridge just after 12:15 a.m. with extensive damage to both vehicles.
Danard and Thoeuk were pronounced dead at the scene.
Lopez-Morales was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. He was released from Harborview Medical Center in late April.
A blood test was done and Lopez-Morales' blood-alcohol content was .14 about three hours after the crash. His THC level was 2.8, according to charging documents.
Thoeuk was a 12th-grade student at Snohomish High School. Danard was most recently enrolled at Snohomish High School during the 2021-2022 school year.
Family and friends remembered the two as people who were a light in the lives of everyone they encountered. Riley was known for his deep love for others and Khalea is remembered as someone who had an infectious laugh.