Gig Harbor, WA — November 28, 2022, one person in a van died in a crash with a garbage truck on 118th Avenue NW in Gig Harbor.

Authorities say the incident happened around 10:40 a.m. along the 14800 block of 118th Ave NW. Preliminary investigation suggests only that a van collided with a garbage truck that was picking up a trash can in the area. Investigators say there was no evidence the van tried to stop before the crash.

The van's driver was pronounced dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported.

The investigation continues. No further information is available at this time.

Commentary on Gig Harbor Garbage Truck Accident on 118th Ave

After just about any accident--no matter how simplistic the first news stories about it may be--it's important to investigate carefully and make sure no crucial details slip through the cracks. Take the Gig Harbor wreck: People see that a van allegedly didn't slow before hitting the garbage truck and think that the crash, while tragic, would mostly be the fault of the victim. Police didn't give them any reason to doubt that conclusion, either, so in many people's minds this may be open-and-shut.

I've lost count of the times I've told people not to jump to conclusions as the facts are still being gathered. Even a seemingly straightforward incident like this may have unusual factors that went unnoticed during a once-over at the scene. Folks tend to take for granted that authorities will get all the facts, but they don't always have the experience or tools to ensure nothing important goes overlooked. As such, it's often best to ensure the details are in the hands of experienced professionals. Will the necessary steps be taken to find the whole story here?