Battle Ground driver, passengers injured in fatal traffic collision

A Battle Ground woman and her two passengers were injured and a Federal Way man died in a traffic collision Wednesday, July 4, in Pierce County.

The crash occurred shortly before 9 p.m. on Highway 512 and Canyon Road outside of Puyallup when a 58-year-old Federal Way man driving a 1995 Chevrolet Corvette, traveling eastbound on state Route 512, crossed all lanes of traffic and struck the cable barrier on the left shoulder, according to a Washington State Patrol (WSP) report. The driver, whose name has not been released pending notification, then entered the westbound lane and struck a 2013 Hyundai Elantra driven by 51-year-old Cobie Neidlinger, of Battle Ground.

The driver of the first vehicle was declared deceased at the scene. He was not wearing a seatbelt, according to the WSP report. Neidlinger and her passengers, 18-year-old Aylah Neidlinger and a 15-year-old girl, also of Battle Ground, were injured and taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup. Neidlinger and her passengers were all wearing seatbelts. The crash is under investigation.