Community Police & Fire

One dead in collision on Highway 16

A Shelton woman died in a wrong-way collision on Highway 16 early Saturday.

Just after 1 a.m., the 30-year-old was riding her 2000 Yamaha motorcycle eastbound on the highway near Rosedale Street, according to the Washington State Patrol. A 2014 Honda Civic going the wrong direction hit her.

The motorcycle rider died at the scene. The State Patrol withheld her name pending notification of kin.

The 54-year-old Civic driver, Mecca Berkins of Federal Way, was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tacoma. She was believed to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, according to the State Patrol, and is suspected of vehicular homicide.

The eastbound lanes were blocked for 5 hours, 49 minutes. Traffic was diverted through the town of Gig Harbor via Burnham Drive.