Crime & Safety

Driver Killed in 520 Wrong-Way Crash Identified as Woodinville Woman

The woman who died after she drove the wrong way on State Route 520 Wednesday morning was identified as Jillian Gordon, 22.

Jillian Gordon, 22, of Woodinville, was the woman who died Wednesday morning when she apparently drove her car , the King County Medical Examiner reported Thursday.

The Washington State Patrol said that Gordon died when she drove her 2000 Mitsubishi Galant eastbound in the westbound lanes of the freeway just before 4 a.m.

According to State Patrol investigators, Gordon's Mitsubishi struck the barrier on westbound 520 and then came to rest near the 92nd Avenue Northeast exit without her lights on in the left and middle lanes near a road construction site, said Trooper Julie Startup.

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Her Mitsubishi then was rear-ended by a Cedar Grove composting truck and was spun 180 degrees, Startup said. When the car stopped, Gordon drove away eastbound in the westbound lanes without her lights on until she struck the semi-truck head-on near the 108th Avenue Northeast exit, Startup said.

The debris of the crash and the investigation blocked the freeway and the State Patrol closed 520 for about a mile between 4 and 9:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, diverting traffic to Northeast 108th Avenue.

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WSP Seeks Witnesses

The Washington State Patrol is seeking witnesses in Wednesday morning's fatal crash. From their press release:

The Washington State Patrol Major Accident Investigation Team is investigating a fatal collision that occurred westbound State Route 520 this morning just before 4:00 am.  The collision scene began westbound on SR 520 in the area of 92nd with the fatality occurring near the 108th street exit. The collision involved a red Mitsubishi Gallant, vehicle resembling a garbage truck and a semi dump truck with two silver containers.

MAIT detectives are seeking witnesses that may have information about the collision and the chain of events that led up to it.  If you or someone you know saw or heard something that may be related to this investigation please contact Detective Sergeant Jerry Cooper (360) 805-1192 or Detective Greg Wilcoxson (360) 805-1195. 


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