Elijah Williams,Jaziel Zepeda Obituary, Death; – Authorities have officially identified two men who lost their lives in a crash involving two vehicles that ignited in flames in Pierce County two weeks ago.
Investigators believe that 19-year-old Jaziel Zepeda was operating his white BMW at a high rate of speed while heading north on Canyon Road East in Summit View when he disregarded a red light on August 14. Zepeda collided with a Mercedes sedan that was executing a left turn to proceed south on Canyon Road, as reported by the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department.
Both vehicles were consumed by fire and became fully engulfed. The Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office stated that the cause and manner of Zepeda’s death are currently “pending.” This designation is temporary and indicates that further investigation, information, and/or test results are necessary for certification.
The driver of the Mercedes sedan has been identified as 21-year-old Elijah Williams. The cause of his death has been determined to be blunt force trauma, with the manner of death classified as an accident, according to the release.
Witnesses reported observing Zepeda’s BMW attempting to race other vehicles further south on Canyon Road. A 911 caller indicated that the car was traveling at a speed of 130 miles per hour, as noted in the release.
Deputies indicated that there were no skid marks on the roadway, suggesting that Zepeda did not attempt to brake, as stated by the department’s spokesman, Sgt. Darren Moss, in an interview with The News Tribune on Monday. Williams was remembered as a kind, loving, and compassionate individual, as highlighted in a GoFundMe campaign established to assist his family with funeral expenses.
