Young couple killed in Benson Hill crash
By DEAN RADFORD
Renton Reporter Editor
May 30, 2008 · Updated 11:47 AM
A young couple was killed in a single-car accident at about 10 p.m. Tuesday in the Benson Hill area.
The victims, who were engaged, were identified as Gus Shaffer, 22, and Sydney Rachelle Mitchell-Lowery, 23. According to Renton police, Shaffer lived near the scene of the accident.
The county medical examiner ruled their deaths accidental.
The accident occurred near the intersection of 112th Avenue Southeast and Southeast 162nd Street. It was the first fatal accident the Renton Police Department has investigated in the newly annexed Benson Hill area, according to police spokeswoman, Penny Bartley.
Speed may have been a factor in the accident, according to police. The posted speed limit is 25 mph. Shaffer apparently was driving the 1996 Ford Explorer, according to police.
The car drove into a drainage ditch and then flipped, striking a landscaped cement retaining wall approximately 60 feet from the driveway, according to Renton Police Commander Kent Curry.
The couple was pronounced dead at the scene.
Contact Renton Reporter Editor Dean Radford at editor@rentonreporter.com or 1-425-255-3484 (ext 5050).Comment on this story.
So keep your comments:
- Civil
- Smart
- On-topic
- Free of profanity
We ask that all participants own their words by logging in with their Facebook account. It's a simple process that will take seconds and helps keep our comments free of trolls, cranks, and “drive-by” commenters. We reserve the right to remove comments from anyone using screen names, pseudonyms or false identities. Please refer to our Terms of Use for full detail on participating on our site.
