Tragic Incident on Tacoma Highway
On Friday evening, a Washington State Patrol trooper lost her life while conducting an investigation at a crash site along State Route 509 in Tacoma. The agency confirmed the fatal event.
Trooper Tara-Marysa Guting, aged 29, was examining a two-vehicle collision when she was hit by another vehicle shortly before 7:30 p.m. She was standing outside her patrol car at the time of the incident.
The location was on the southbound lanes of SR 509 near milepost 2, situated south of the Port of Tacoma.
Individuals present at the scene attempted to provide assistance to the trooper, but she ultimately succumbed to her injuries.
Investigation Underway
The Tacoma Police Department has taken charge of the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the trooper's death. Authorities have indicated that while no arrests have been made as of now, the inquiry is ongoing, and developments may occur in the near future.
Trooper Guting had recently embarked on her career with the Washington State Patrol. She entered the agency as a cadet in January 2024 and successfully completed the 119th Trooper Basic Training Class. Her official commissioning took place on October 30, with an assignment to District 1 in Tacoma.
This tragedy represents the 34th occasion in the patrol's 105-year history that a trooper has been killed in the line of duty.
Personal Background and Tributes
The agency expressed profound sorrow, stating, "Tara's loss is deeply felt within the WSP family," and acknowledged the impact on her husband, Timothy, who serves as a deputy state fire marshal at the WSP Fire Training Academy in North Bend.
Trooper Guting was born on July 19, 1996, in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Russell and Cheryl Hirata. She graduated from Mililani High School in Hawaii in 2014 and soon after began a path of public service by joining the Army National Guard on October 22, 2014.
She dedicated eight years as a signal intelligence analyst, concluding her military service honorably on October 21, 2022. Her commitment was noted in both her military and law enforcement roles.
She married Timothy on August 21, 2019, at the Fire Training Academy.
Washington State Patrol Chief John R. Batiste offered condolences, saying, "My heartfelt condolences go out to Timothy, Tara's extended family, her friends, her academy classmates, to District 1 Captain Gundermann, and his entire team. We will never forget Badge #720 – Trooper Tara-Marysa Guting."
He added, "The sky has poured rain on us all for the past two weeks. And with this loss, now tears flood our souls."
