claimed two

By Kevin Hanson

The Courier-Herald

Police are hoping someone will step forward with information regarding an early-morning car crash that left two Enumclaw residents dead.

The crash occurred just after 3 a.m. July 5 not far from the Enumclaw city limits. Cary Neuneker, 34, died at the scene; Joseph (Joey) Miller, 24, died three days later at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

County authorities are operating under the belief Neuneker was racing with another vehicle, a car and driver that have not been identified.

According to information investigators have pieced together, Neuneker was driving his 1989 Acura Integra northbound on 244th Avenue Southeast However, he was traveling in the southbound lane, moving at a high rate of speed.

At the same time, Miller was traveling southbound in his 1991 Ford Thunderbird. There was evidence both hit their brakes, but the two vehicles collided nearly head-on. The crash occurred just south of the intersection of 244th and Southeast 424th Avenue.

Neuneker was trapped in his Acura and pronounced dead at the scene. Miller suffered burns and other injuries and was airlifted to Harborview.

A Sheriff's Office spokesman said there were no eyewitnesses, but there have been reports that someone heard cars racing in the area. That report "fits with the physical evidence we have," according to Sgt. John Urquhart.

Anyone with information about the accident is asked to call the Sheriff's Office at 206-296-3311 (24 hours a day) or phone 9-1-1.

Kevin Hanson can be reached at khanson@courierherald.com