Car slams into tree in front of Sumner stadium, driver dies

A 31-year-old male driver died from injuries he sustained in a one-car accident Oct. 20 in front of Sunset Chev Stadium in Sumner.

Jason Stewart died at Tacoma General Hospital later in the evening.

Stewart was driving a Honda Civic eastbound when he lost control and struck a tree about 12:45 p.m. in the 1700 block of Main Street. The impact with the tree made it difficult for East Pierce Fire and Rescue crews to cut the driver from the vehicle. They used several pieces of extraction equipment.

“We used every piece of extrication equipment we had except one,” said East Pierce firefighter Doug Hinkle.

Sumner police reported that several witnesses saw the Civic veer off the street and jump the curb. The car traveled for a time on the sidewalk, barely missing parked vehicles before hitting the tree. A sport-utility vehicle parked in front of the tree sustained minor damage.

Stewart, the sole occupant, was wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident, according to fire officials.

Although it was lunch time for the students, no other injuries were reported. A high school employee used fire extinguishers on the vehicle as a precaution before firefighters arrived.

The driver was transported to the Tacoma trauma center by East Pierce personnel.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation by the Sumner police.