OLYMPIA, WA – A tragic wrong-way accident on Interstate 5 took the lives of a 31-year-old woman and a 2-year-old boy in Olympia. The woman was identified as Samantha Denney, and the little boy as Denney’s son, Adonis Miller. A second child, an 8-year-old girl, was also present in the vehicle and sustained injuries.
According to the Washington State Patrol, a Jeep was observed traveling in the wrong direction – north in the southbound lanes – and ended up colliding with Denney’s southbound Chevy Malibu. Close friends of Denney, including Cara Ebeling, mourned her unfortunate demise with fond memories. Ebeling described her as an independent lady of strength, a remarkable mother, and a radiant source of light in their lives.
Denney, who was also pregnant, has her friends and family rallying to support each other in these trying times. A GoFundMe page was created in order to help with the funeral costs, highlighting the community’s resilience and support.
After the fatal accident, State Patrol was quick to respond, blocking the southbound I-5 near State Route 101 for investigation. Trooper John Dattilo expressed his grief at the tragic loss of life.
Authorities later confirmed that the Jeep driver, who remained unharmed, was intoxicated during the crash and was subsequently arrested for DUI. Originally, it was mistakenly reported that Denney was the one traveling in the wrong direction. The Shelton-based 27-year-old perpetrator now faces charges of vehicular homicide.