One dead, driver faces vehicular homicide charge after three vehicle crash on SR 167 Thursday morning

A 29-year-old Bonney Lake man was killed Thursday morning, Dec. 11, 2025 when a northbound car was crushed between two trucks on SR 167 just south of SR 18, according to the Washington State Patrol (WSP).

The collision was reported at 7:14 a.m. in the northbound lanes of SR 167 in the Auburn area.

Troopers said three vehicles were traveling in lane one when two of them stopped for traffic and a third failed to slow in time.

According to the State Patrol, a 2020 Freightliner Cascadia semi driven by 25-year-old Kamalpreet Singh of Elk Grove, California struck the rear of a blue 2010 Mazda 3 sedan that had stopped behind a white 2016 Peterbilt truck. The Freightliner overrode the back of the Mazda and pushed it under the rear of the Peterbilt.

Troopers said the engine compartment of the Mazda caught fire after the impact but the flames were quickly extinguished. The Freightliner and Mazda came to rest in the left lane and the Peterbilt on the right shoulder.

Sadly, the driver of the Mazda, identified as Robert B. Pearson, 29, of Bonney Lake, died at the scene. Next of kin notifications were completed by State Patrol sergeants, the agency said.

Singh and the Peterbilt driver were not injured. All three drivers were wearing seat belts.

Singh faces a charge of vehicular homicide, according to the WSP.

The crash blocked the roadway for 6 hours and 48 minutes.

The State Patrol said drugs and alcohol were not involved, and the cause of the collision remains under investigation.