State Patrol identify Auburn woman as suspected drunken driver in fatal crash

Washington State Patrol identified an Auburn woman as the suspected drunken driver who led police on a high-speed chase that ended in a fatal car crash on Pacific Highway Monday night.

Washington State Patrol identified an Auburn woman as the suspected drunken driver who led police on a high-speed chase that ended in a fatal car crash on Pacific Highway Monday night.

Douglas Simmons III, 40, of Fife, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the State Patrol.

Federal Way police received a 911 call at about 6:30 p.m. about a reckless driver near Pacific Highway and 356th Street. Using emergency lights and sires, officers attempted to stop the vehicle, a 1988 Honda Accord driven by Virginia Ramsey, 36, of Auburn. But Ramsey sped away from pursuing police, State Patrol reported.

At Highway 99 and Porter Way, in the town of Milton, the Honda collided with a Volkswagen Jetta driven by Simmons. A woman passenger in the Volkswagen, identified by the Patrol as Holly Mattson, 42, of Oregon City, Ore., was taken to Madigan Hospital in serious condition.

Ramsay was taken to St. Joseph Hospital in serious condition, the State Patrol said.

Highway 99 at Porter Way was closed in both directions while police investigated. Federal Way police said the State Patrol is investigating the collision as a criminal matter.