Attorney: Victim's Family Devastated After Fatal I-405 Crash

Written by Venice Buhain

The victim in a fatal car crash on Interstate 405 Thursday night was identified by his family's attorney as 22-year-old Ian Riley Beckford of Federal Way.

Beckford was on his way home from a day with his family on Lake Sammamish, according to family attorney Eric Makus, when around 9:45 p.m., his 2002 BMW 325 was rear-ended by a 2008 Audi RS4 driven by a 27-year-old Woodinville man.

Beckford's car burst into flames and rolled over, according to the Washington State Patrol.

"It's a big and close-knit family," Makus said. "He was a 22-year-old kid coming home from a fun day at the lake."

According to the Washington State Patrol, the driver of the Audi may have been high on methamphetamine, and witnesses told troopers that the car was traveling in excess of 100 mph. The Audi driver could face charges of vehicular homicide in connection with the crash, according to Washington State Patrol spokesman Trooper Chris Webb.

Patch is not naming the 27-year-old Woodinville man, because he has not been charged. The man suffered injuries in the crash.

The Audi and BMW also struck two other cars, injuring two others from Woodinville in a Honda Ridgeline, and a passenger in the Audi. The injured were taken to Overlake Hospital Medical Center. The driver of the fourth car, from Seattle, was not injured.

Southbound I-405 was blocked for five hours after the crash, as troopers investigated the 2,000 foot long crash scene.

Beckford was a college student who lived with his parents in Federal Way. He is survived by his brother Shane, 19, and his parents, Melinda and Fritz Beckford.

Makus said that Beckford's family is devastated by the loss of their son and brother.

"Punishment on this thing is not going to bring Ian back," Makus said. "How will we make it stop? You're going from destroying your own life to destroying other people's lives."