A 17-year-old Kentlake High School female student and a 28-year-old Algona man were killed in a two-vehicle, wrong-way driver crash early Friday morning, Nov. 17 in Kent in the 15600 block of SE 272nd St.
The Algona man reportedly was driving a stolen 2006 Nissan Altima westbound in the eastbound lanes of travel when he collided with a 2005 Chrysler Town Car van carrying the girl, according to a Nov. 21 Kent Police news release.
Nasturcia Baileigh, a Kentlake senior, died in the crash, according to a Nov. 21 GoFundMe post by a friend of the family. Sarah Baileigh, the mother of the girl, was driving the van, and is in critical condition, according to the post. Firefighters extricated Sarah Baileigh, 38, of Covington, from the vehicle with serious injuries. Paramedics transported her to a local hospital.
Anthony Lee Carpenter, 28, of Algona, the driver of the Altima, died of multiple blunt force injuries, according to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office.
According to Kent Police, King County Sheriff’s Office deputies advised that just prior to the crash, they were dispatched to the Fred Meyer, 16735 SE 272nd St. in Covington, regarding a man passed out in vehicle. The man turned out to be Carpenter.
When deputies arrived at the store’s parking lot, they learned that the vehicle was recently reported stolen, according to police.
Before deputies were able to contact the driver, he woke up and sped off. He reportedly drove over a median and a planter box to exit the parking lot, and then fled westbound in the eastbound lanes of SE 272nd Street, according to Kent Police. The store is less than a mile east from the crash site.
“Deputies did not attempt to pursue in compliance with state law and did not activate their emergency equipment,” according to the Kent Police news release.
Concerned about the erratic driving of the suspect vehicle and the likely potential that a collision would occur, deputies began checking the area, according to police. A few minutes later, they located the crash.
Kent Police are still investigating to determine the circumstances that led up to the crash.
If you have any information regarding this incident, call the Kent Police Tip Line at 253-856-5808 or email KPDTipLine@kentwa.gov. Refer to case number 23-15599.
Fundraiser
Diana Lanham, of Duvall, posted the GoFundMe page to help Sarah Baileigh cover funeral/burial costs, a family vehicle, and any new financial strains stemming from the crash, according to the post.
In addition to Nasturcia, Baileigh has three other children ages 15, 9 and 7.
According to the post by Lanham, up until last year, Sarah and her four children had been living in fear from emotional and physical abuse from her children’s father.
“And then, last year, things took a turn when Sarah almost lost her life at the hands of her ex-husband,” Lanham wrote. “After that incident landed him in jail, Sarah and her kids were finally able to start living a life free of fear, chaos, and manipulation.”
Now, a year later, the most has lost her oldest child and suffered serious injuries.
“Although this family has had more than their fair share of tragedy, Sarah now has another emotional and physical journey ahead of her,” Lanham wrote. “In addition to her sternum and ribcage, nearly all of the bones on Sarah’s right side were broken, including damage to her heart and lungs.”
Lanham asks people to help.
“I am appealing to the kindness of friends, family, and strangers to come together to lift Sarah’s burden of financial stress, and support her family as they begin their journey through grief and heartache.” Lanham said.
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