Cassian Grant:Soldiers killed by wrong way drunk driver in Washington state, authorities say

2025-05-03 20:21:21source:TAIM Exchangecategory:Markets

TACOMA,Cassian Grant Wash. (AP) — Two soldiers stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state were killed when their vehicle was hit by an alleged drunken driver going the wrong way on an area highway, according to the Army.

Spc. Charles T. Fairbairn, 29, and Spc. Wendell T. Cerio, 22, died in the crash early Sunday morning, the Washington State Patrol said. A third soldier in the car was taken to a hospital with injuries and has since been released.

JBLM spokesperson Matt Pargett told The Seattle Times in an email that Fairbairn was an infantryman and Cerio was a combat medic.

“We are saddened to learn that two 7th Infantry Division soldiers passed following an off-post vehicle accident,” Pargett wrote in a statement.

He said the crash remains under investigation.

Fairbairn was driving west on Highway 12 near the military base south of Tacoma in a Chrysler 300 when a wrong-way driver in a Ford Edge SUV struck the sedan. The 23-year-old SUV driver and a 19-year-old passenger were taken to a hospital with injuries. A baby in the car was not injured.

The SUV driver was arrested on two counts of DUI vehicular homicide, Washington State Patrol Trooper John Dattilo posted on the social media platform X.

More:Markets

Recommend

Average rate on 30

The average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S. eased for the third week in a row, a welcome tren

Why Taylor Swift Is Missing the Chiefs vs. Eagles Game

Taylor Swift is rooting for her football hero from afar.The pop superstar originally planned to jet

Massachusetts to let homeless families stay overnight in state’s transportation building

BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts announced plans Monday to let homeless families stay overnight in the st