Man charged in fatal August traffic accident

Published 10:43 am Wednesday, January 6, 2010

A man who allegedly caused a fatal traffic collision by crossing the center line while driving his pickup on Highway 162 near Sumner in August is charged with vehicular homicide.

Pierce County prosecutors charged 30-year-old Joseph Jimmie Diraddo, who is summoned to court Jan. 13 to be arraigned for the accident.

Prosecutors allege in charging papers the pickup driven by Diraddo crossed the center line on Highway 162 near Sumner on Aug. 27, striking a vehicle driven by Maria Davila head-on.

Davila, 65, later died at a local hospital from injuries suffered.

Washington State Patrol troopers who questioned Diraddo reported he appeared to be under the influence of drugs. Troopers found evidence of drug use in his pickup, according to documents.

Blood samples taken from Diraddo tested positive for drugs and alcohol. Traces of methamphetamine and other drugs were present, according to charging papers.

Diraddo told police he used methamphetamine the day before the wreck but didn’t think it impaired his driving ability the morning of the crash.

Diraddo said he was tired after being up with his children the previous night and may have taken his eyes off the road, possibly while reaching for his cell phone or cigarettes, according to the charging papers.