Tragedy in Thurston County--Marysville Redux for Cable Median Barriers?

Michael Myers
Attorney
(866) 735-1102 Ext 580
Posted by Michael MyersOctober 05, 2008 11:12 PM
Tags: None

Sorrow in Thurston County this weekend. As reported in part by the Mason County Daily News:

Two people were killed on Interstate 5 at Milepost 88 in Thurston County today after a passenger vehicle crossed the median into oncoming traffic and struck a semi-truck head-on. Two children were injured as well, one seriously. According to witnesses, it was raining when a brown 1995 Subaru Legend was traveling southbound on Interstate 5 in the right lane when traffic began to slow. The Subaru attempted the brake and lost control, traveling across the left lane and into the median. The Subaru continued through the median underneath the cable barrier and into the northbound lanes. The Subaru then struck a green 2007 Freightliner semi-truck, with trailer, head on. The Freightliner pushed the Subaru back into the median and into the cable barrier a second time. Only the deceased front seat passenger has been positively identified at this time. He is identified as Karl F. Heiss, 43, of Moyie Springs, Idaho. The female driver, also deceased, has not been identified. An unidentified female who was a rear passenger in the Subaru, approximately 10 years old, sustained life-threatening injuries and was airlifted the Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. An unidentified male, who was a rear passenger of the Subaru, in a booster seat, approximately 6 years old, sustained injuries and was transported via ambulance to a local hospital then airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Cable median barriers have been heated topic in Washington. Motorcyclists fear cable median barriers and label them "cheese cutters". Some accident victims in accidents have alleged the State has been too slow to install the barriers. Others, like family of Mr. Heiss and the other occupants in the Subaru, who have been injured or suffered the loss of a family member when a vehicle has traveled underneath a barrier have asserted that the State either mis-engineered or mis-installed the barriers.

6 Comments

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Katrina Vaida
Posted by Katrina Vaida
October 06, 2008 12:36 PM

I was a witness to this accident and helped rescue the children and take care of the little boy. The subaru was in front of me. I'm still in shock on how this accident happened. It shouldn't of. The cable barrier didn't work for the subaru but it worked atferwards preventing the entangled semi and car from coming back over to the southbound lanes. I'm currently trying to find out how the children are doing. I still have the images in my head and going to be awhile before they leave. It was very bad accident.

Isa Bella Rogol
Posted by Isa Bella Rogol
October 06, 2008 4:19 PM

I am someone who heard about this terrible accident. I am also wondering about the children. The Olympian already posted the names of the parents of the surviving children. They are Karl and Marisa Bauducco Heiss. If you google their names you will find their business phone number. They are from Idaho. I am assuming that there is someone there who you can contact regarding the condition of the children. We are keeping them in our prayers. I hope you feel better soon. This things take awhile to process.

Isa Bella

erin mccormick-stirling
Posted by erin mccormick-stirling
October 07, 2008 8:36 PM

i am a close personal friend of the family. we have set up a website to post current updates on the children and for people to leave messages to their family members.More ...
On behalf of the family, Thank you for helping!!
All prayers are appreciated!

carroll walkup
Posted by carroll walkup
October 09, 2008 6:15 PM

My name is carroll walkup and karl,Marisa Alliana and Alden were great frinds of my husbend Mike and I's. We would like to know when the funerl is.our prayers are going for the family please let me know what we can do to help.our love and prayers Mike&carroll Walkup my heart is breaking

Bauducco
Posted by Bauducco
October 21, 2008 3:46 AM

Hello, thank you at all, 1° for pray, 2° for help, Katrina i know you are there in this terrible moment, i see a Dereck and tell me in Harborview, i never forget that, tks. Isa Bella, i read your message in the hospital, tks for think in my family, if anybody want help us because in this moment we need, pray for all the kids in the same condition!!

Bauducco
Posted by Bauducco
October 21, 2008 3:46 AM

Hello, thank you at all, 1° for pray, 2° for help, Katrina i know you are there in this terrible moment, i see a Dereck and tell me in Harborview, i never forget that, tks. Isa Bella, i read your message in the hospital, tks for think in my family, if anybody want help us because in this moment we need, pray for all the kids in the same condition!! https://More ...

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