By Tim Clifford

Two counts of Vehicular Assault and two counts of Reckless Endangerment are facing 42-year-old Des Moines resident Justin Ozbun following a wrong way collision on June 1 that left multiple people injured. According to the charging documents, one of the victims is currently in critical condition at Harborview and is not expected to survive her injuries at this time.

According to the documents, dispatchers received multiple calls around 11:15 a.m. on June 1 of a 5-car collision near the I-5 northbound off ramp on S. 320th Street in Federal Way. Numerous witnesses at the scene informed responding officers that the cause of the accident was a black 2008 Dodge Challenger that was moving an estimated 100 mph in the wrong direction of the eastbound lane.

The Challenger collided with two vehicles, a Honda CRV and Nissan Altima, as they were entering S. 320th from the off ramp. The force of the collision sent the Honda spinning into an embankment after it collapsed a street sign while also spinning the Nissan through another street sign and onto the opposite shoulder of the road. Moving through these vehicles, the Challenger came to a stop after careening into a Nissan truck that was stopped at a red light. This truck was also then pushed into a Honda that was stopped behind it.

Arriving medics found Stacie Goliez and her two children in the Nissan Altima. Both children were not seriously injured in the collision. Goliez however was unresponsive at the scene and suffered a fractured skull, a large hematoma in the brain and a fractured neck. Despite undergoing surgery to stop the bleeding in her brain doctors have informed the prosecutor’s office that they do not expect Goliez to survive her injuries at this time.

The driver of the Honda CRV, Bertha Tan, was taken to Harborview with serious injuries including internal bleeding and broken ribs. When speaking with police she could not recall the accident itself but did remember waking up in her car after the collision in extreme pain and with strangers trying to help her. She is expected to survive and recover from her injuries.

It is heavily noted in these documents that the driver of the Challenger, Ozbun, was not only able to speak to EMS crews and police following the crash but expressed great concern only for the damage to his own car. Allegedly, Ozbun cursed at the medics while they treated him for his injuries and seemed oblivious to the fact that his actions had seriously injured two people and could have harmed or killed two children.

Officers observed that Ozbun’s speech was slurred and that his eyes appeared to be glassy and red. After being transported to the hospital officers obtained a sample of Ozbun’s blood for toxicology and managed to speak with him briefly. He denied having had any alcohol but admitted to smoking marijuana 15 hours prior to the incident. Toxicology results should come out in a few weeks.

Because of the severity of the injuries to Goliez and Tan and his lack of remorse for his actions the state has asked that Ozbun be held on $400,000 bail. It is also noted Ozbun was convicted for a DUI in 2007 in Texas as well as an Obstructing charge in 2009.

An arraignment hearing has been set for June 15 at the Kent Regional Justice Center. Depending on the results of toxicology and Goliez’s condition Ozbun may yet face more charges.