PUYALLUP, Wash. — Washington State Patrol is asking for the public’s help. They want more information into what led to an accident near Puyallup that resulted in the death of five people.
The hours before that fatal crash appear to have been posted to social media by the driver herself.
Kiarra Monaghan, 29, is the woman identified as the driver of Saturday morning’s crash and is identified by Washington State Patrol in a social media video that is now part of the investigation. The videos were posted on Facebook Live and captured the mother experiencing a range of emotions.
KING 5 chose to show the videos because it is now part of the WSP investigation into the fatal crash that killed five people, including two children.
“Every day has been like an ultimate battle. With my relationship, with my job,” Monaghan said on the live stream.
Washington State Patrol confirmed that these videos are now part of their investigation.
“We’re going to have a lot of folks in a lot of different ways grieving and dealing with this loss, and we’re all going to have to do the best we can to get through this,” said Washington State Patrol spokesperson Chris Loftis.
Investigators say around 4:30 a.m., Monaghan lost control of the SUV she was driving and slammed into an overpass support column just south of Puyallup. One person was thrown from the vehicle and killed, and four more were inside as the SUV caught fire – all five died on the scene – two of the dead were 11-year-old children.
The identities of the four other people killed in this deadly crash have yet to be released.
“We’ve got to get this right. Multiple fatalities with children involved. We’re not going to leave any stone unturned,” Loftis said. “The bottom line is that we are dealing with young people in a tragic situation,” he continued.
The investigation includes the videos posted by the driver. They show Monaghan, with children and friends along her side, early Saturday morning, where she appears to be drinking alcohol. Three hours later, investigators believe she was behind the wheel.
Investigators have yet to release an official cause of the accident but say that despite sub-freezing temperatures, the roadway was free and clear, and they do not believe weather was a factor.
Toxicology results on the drivers are still pending.
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