Update: Police investigating fatal truck accident on Island

According to the Mercer Island Police Department, the male occupant of a May 25 truck accident on North Mercer Way died on May 31. On June 2, the department said the King County Medical Examiner determined the cause of death to be suicide by a single gunshot wound to the head. The families in the double-fatality wreck have been notified and the investigation is ongoing.

Original story:

Mercer Island police and Washington State Patrol are investigating a fatal truck accident that occurred on the evening of May 25 in the 7000 block of North Mercer Way.

Police discovered a firearm inside the vehicle and the King County Medical Examiner later determined that a female occupant from Renton died from a close-range single gunshot wound to the head, according to a Mercer Island Police Department press release.

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Local police officers and fire units responded to the reported traffic accident at about 7:13 p.m. and police discovered that the truck — containing a male and female married couple — had struck a power pole, according to the release.

The release added that the female was pronounced dead at the scene, and the male was transported to Harborview Medical Center in critical condition. Both victim’s families have been notified.

According to witness reports, what sounded like gunshots could be heard around the time of the accident.

In order for police and fire units to safely respond to the accident, Puget Sound Energy disconnected impacted electricity lines. Approximately 48 homes in the area were without power until about 4 a.m. on May 26 and the roadway was reopened.