In a recent development, a 26-year-old driver has been arrested in connection to a deadly chain-reaction crash involving an ambulance on southbound Interstate 5 near the West Seattle Bridge earlier this month. The arrest took place on Thursday, with the driver now facing charges of felony hit-and-run and providing false statements to law enforcement.

The Washington State Patrol (WSP) stated that the initial crash occurred on June 2 around 4 a.m., near the West Seattle Bridge. A green 1996 Toyota Corolla was descending the ramp from the bridge to southbound I-5 when the driver lost control, resulting in a collision with a barrier.

Initial information suggested that four occupants had exited the Corolla after the crash in order to find a safer location. Unfortunately, a passing motorhome was unable to avoid the situation in time, leading to a collision between the motorhome's passenger side mirror and one of the passengers, identified as 29-year-old Shanique Dickens. Tragically, Dickens sustained serious injuries to the head and was later pronounced dead at the scene by the Seattle Fire Department.

As emergency responders and paramedics arrived at the scene, an AMR ambulance parked behind the Corolla with its emergency lights activated. However, during this time, it was reported that a suspected impaired driver crashed into the back of the ambulance, causing it to collide with the Corolla and trapping Dickens underneath. This chain of events further intensified the severity of the situation.

Initially, troopers were told by the other passengers of the Corolla that the driver, referred to as "Tae," had fled the scene before their arrival. However, after thorough investigation and analysis of surveillance footage from a nearby gas station, it was revealed that only three individuals were present in the Corolla at the time of the crash, and the driver known as "Tae" did not actually exist.

Based on this new information, detectives subsequently arrested the 26-year-old female driver of the Corolla on Thursday afternoon. She was then booked into the King County jail on charges of felony hit-and-run and providing false statements to law enforcement.

The Prosecuting Attorney's Office officials have stated that even if a person stays at the scene of a crash but fails to provide correct identification, address, and insurance information to law enforcement, they can still face hit-and-run charges.

Although scheduled to appear in court on Friday, the 26-year-old woman did not attend the hearing. A judge then set bail at $50,000 and scheduled another court date for Monday.

This incident serves as a tragic reminder of the potential consequences of reckless driving and the importance of providing accurate information to authorities in the aftermath of a crash. The Seattle community mourns the loss of Shanique Dickens and hopes that justice will be served in the ongoing legal proceedings.