On July 16, 2023, a group of young adults visiting Tacoma from Arizona was traveling through the intersection of SR 509 and Alexander Avenue when a devastating collision occurred. Six people were killed, and another suffered serious injuries, making it one of Washington’s deadliest traffic crashes in more than two decades.
The wrongful death lawsuit arising from that crash is scheduled for trial in August 2026. Our firm represents the parents of 19-year-old Cerra Corner, who was among those killed in the collision. Records cited in the lawsuit show that transportation officials had been studying safety concerns at this intersection years before the crash.
According to investigators, the Kia Forte carrying the victims entered the intersection and was struck by an SUV traveling on SR 509. Prosecutors later determined that criminal charges were not warranted.
Records Show a Long History of Crashes and Safety Discussions
The lawsuit filed by our firm alleges that state and local agencies had knowledge of ongoing safety issues at the SR 509 and Alexander Avenue intersection before the fatal crash. A 2020 WSDOT Intersection Control Evaluation documented more than 100 crashes at the SR 509 and Alexander Avenue intersection between 2013 and 2018. The evaluation identified recurring issues, including red-light running and driver inattention, and examined potential changes that could improve safety.
The lawsuit also points to discussions among transportation officials about possible improvements, including alternative intersection designs and additional warning systems intended to reduce the risk of serious collisions.
The concerns identified in those records were not limited to a single crash pattern. According to the lawsuit, transportation officials had also discussed whether additional warning systems or alternative intersection designs could improve safety at the location. One option reportedly considered was a roundabout, which was identified during the evaluation process as a design that could reduce the likelihood of severe injury and fatal crashes compared to a traditional signalized intersection. According to the lawsuit, officials had years of notice that the intersection posed safety concerns, yet meaningful improvements were not made before the collision occurred.
Safety Improvements Are Now Underway
Following the crash, changes at the intersection began moving forward. According to WSDOT, the area is being redesigned as part of a larger transportation project. The planned work includes combining the two closely spaced intersections into one signalized intersection, adding enhanced warning systems, and improving visibility for drivers.
Many of the measures now being implemented are similar to measures that had been discussed before the July 2023 collision. While these changes are intended to make the roadway safer for future motorists, they also raise a central question in the lawsuit about whether similar measures could and should have been implemented before six young people lost their lives.
Seeking Accountability Through Civil Litigation
Cases involving allegedly dangerous roadways often focus on more than the actions of individual drivers. They can also examine whether roadway design, traffic controls, visibility issues, or other conditions contributed to a collision and whether responsible agencies took reasonable steps to address known hazards.
One purpose of this lawsuit is to determine what was known about the intersection’s safety before July 2023 and whether additional steps should have been taken to address those concerns. Through this lawsuit, our firm is seeking accountability on behalf of the families who lost loved ones while also shining a light on the safety concerns that existed at this intersection before the crash.
No legal action can change the insurmountable loss that happened on July 16, 2023. But pursuing justice can help uncover the facts and encourage changes that protect others from experiencing a similar tragedy.