Investigation Continues Into Death of Trooper on Highway 509

INCIDENT DATE/TIME: 12-19-25 1800
LOCATION: WB 509
AREA/CITY: Tacoma
DETAILS:

At approximately 7:20 p.m. on December 19th, 2025, a Washington State Patrol trooper was struck and killed while investigating a two-vehicle collision on southbound Highway 509 near milepost 2 in Tacoma.

Authorities identified the trooper as 29 year-old Tara-Marysa Guting. According to investigators, the trooper was initially struck by a vehicle whose driver remained at the scene and cooperated with law enforcement. No arrests were made in connection with that portion of the incident.

Police later determined that a second vehicle may have struck the trooper after she was thrown into an active lane of traffic. Investigators stated the second vehicle failed to stop and was believed to be a dark-colored, possibly black, four-door pickup described as either a Chevrolet Avalanche or a Cadillac Escalade EXT.

Officers with the Tacoma Police Department continued to investigate the incident and asked anyone with information about the second vehicle to contact authorities.

The investigation remained ongoing.

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