A jury trial commenced Monday in King County Superior Court concerning the tragic death of Summer Taylor, a 24-year-old protester who was struck and killed on Interstate 5 during a demonstration in July 2020. The lawsuit, filed by Taylor’s estate, alleges that the Washington State Patrol failed to adequately protect the protest group after allowing them to occupy the freeway for 18 consecutive nights leading up to the incident.
On the night of the crash, Taylor was participating in a protest near Olive Way when Dawit Kelete, 30, drove his Jaguar through the crowd, striking Taylor and another demonstrator. An investigation revealed that Kelete had initially attempted to enter I-5 but encountered a roadblock at an on-ramp. Instead, he drove the wrong way up the Stewart Street off-ramp before turning around and heading southbound on I-5 toward the protest group.
After the incident, other protesters pursued Kelete’s vehicle, and he was arrested a few miles south of the crash scene by Seattle police and state troopers. Last year, Kelete pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide, aggravated vehicular assault, and reckless driving, receiving a sentence of 78 months in prison.
In the civil trial, Taylor’s family contends that the Washington State Patrol should have taken further precautions to prevent vehicles from entering the freeway during the protests. The lawsuit also claims that the state patrol and Seattle police had previously facilitated access to the freeway for protesters, effectively granting consent for its use during demonstrations.
Attorneys representing the state of Washington argue that Taylor and the other protesters entered the freeway of their own volition, thus assuming the risk associated with their actions. The outcome of this case could have significant implications regarding law enforcement’s responsibility in managing protests and the safety of demonstrators.
The trial is expected to last approximately three weeks, as both sides present their arguments regarding state accountability in the context of the protest and the tragic events that unfolded that night. The case has drawn significant attention, highlighting ongoing discussions about the role of law enforcement during public demonstrations and the rights of protesters.
