Probe continues in fatal car crash

Police still don’t understand why a South Kitsap man drove his car off the road and into a utility pole early Tuesday morning — a crash that left him dead and his female passenger hospitalized.

Steven M. Tomsitz, of Gorst, was pronounced dead at the scene after ramming his 1985 Toyota head-on into a utility pole. Tomsitz and his female companion had been headed eastbound on Mullenix Road at Lawrence Drive when the vehicle veered off the road and down an embankment, rolling at least once.

When State Patrol troopers arrived on scene just before 3 a.m., there was no sign of anything that could have caused the vehicle to leave the road — no other cars, pedestrians or stray animals. State Patrol spokesman Trooper Glen Tyrrell also said he had heard of nothing to indicate either occupant of the car was under the influence of any controlled substance at the time of the crash.

“Basically what they have is wheels off the road,” Tyrrell said.

Toxicology tests are being done on Tomsitz, as part of the standard investigation. However, Tyrrell doesn’t expect to see results for at least a month. Blood samples are sent to an outside lab for testing, Tyrrell said, and non-criminal investigations are just not a priority.

“When the potential for criminal charges isn’t there, they take secondary status,” he explained.

Given the time of night at which the crash occurred, Tyrrell pointed out, there is always the possibility Tomsitz simply fell asleep.

The female passenger, who lives in the Long Lake area of South Kitsap, was released from Tacoma General Hospital Thursday morning. Tyrrell said investigators plan to interview her as soon as possible to try and piece together the events of the evening.

Since the crash, Tyrrell said State Patrol has fielded at least one call from a potential witness, although Tyrrell said he didn’t know what sort of information the witness had offered.

Tyrrell said although Mullenix is technically not part of State Patrol’s coverage area, it’s not uncommon for troopers to fill in when local law enforcement is unable to respond.