A massive collision took place at the intersection of Alexander Avenue and State Route 509 on the Tacoma Tideflats in Washington State on July 16. 

The accident, involving a 2021 KIA Forte hatchback and a BMW SUV, led to the deaths of six people. As per the report from Washington State Patrol, five of the victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while the sixth one succumbed to injuries later.

As the investigation progresses, the authorities are looking into the speed of the vehicles and if the passengers were wearing seat belts. The KIA, designed for five passengers, was carrying seven at the time of the incident. 

The Washington State Patrol said the crash was likely caused by high speed and that one of the drivers went through a red light. They did not indicate which driver. 

An eyewitness, Michael May, who inadvertently recorded the accident, provided a harrowing account of the scene. Despite the danger of an explosion, May, along with other bystanders, attempted to rescue the victims trapped in the overturned KIA but could not save them.

Those who lost their lives were mostly young adults from Arizona, between the ages of 19 to 25. The 21-year-old survivor, Anthony Pena, was critically injured and rushed to St. Joseph’s Medical Center. The BMW SUV was occupied by a couple in their 40s, on their way to church.

The Washington State Patrol has urged the public to provide any available dash cam footage or information that may aid in the ongoing investigation.