A Federal Way man who allegedly crashed into a Federal Way woman, causing her death, fled the scene of the crash on foot and was subsequently charged after turning himself in to police three days later.
On June 13, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Keith Anthony Edwards, 26, with vehicular homicide, felony hit and run, reckless driving, and having no valid operator’s license. According to charging documents, Edwards allegedly took his younger brother’s Tesla without permission, was then seen traveling at around 100 mph on Interstate 5, crashed into a vehicle and then fled the scene on foot into the woods.
The deceased was Liz Luaipou Vili-Kereti, 61, whom Washington State Patrol (WSP) listed as being from Federal Way. The cause of death, according to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office, was multiple blunt force injuries, and her manner of death was ruled an accident.
According to a GoFundMe campaign raising donations for Vili-Kereti’s funeral costs, she was a devoted and selfless mother who poured her heart into her children. The GoFundMe adds that no matter the circumstances, Vili-Kereti gave everything she had to ensure her children felt loved, cared for and supported.
According to the King County Adult and Juvenile Detention jail lookup portal, Edwards is currently held at the Maleng Regional Justice Center on a $225,000 bail on charges related to the June 9 crash. The portal states that he is also awaiting trial for another case, which has a bail of $25,000.
Details of the case
According to documents, at about 6:46 p.m. June 9, WSP received a report of a collision on I-5, just south of State Route 516. Witnesses reported that a black Tesla and a grey Lexus had been involved in a crash, and they were blocking the right lane, documents state.
After the crash, witnesses reported seeing a man who matched Edwards’ description fleeing the scene. Documents state that another witness said that a passenger in the back seat of one of the vehicles may be dead.
Troopers arrived at 7:03 p.m. and determined that the Tesla was driving at a high rate of speed and struck the rear of the Lexus. Documents state that troopers located Vili-Kereti in critical condition, and she was then pronounced dead on the scene by aid personnel at 7:23 p.m.
At about 7:42 p.m., the mother of the registered owner of the Tesla arrived on the scene and informed officers that her son, Edwards, was driving at the time of the collision. Documents state that the mother told officers that when the vehicle was taken, she was at home and she heard a vehicle leaving their residence.
The mother then received a call from her husband, who stated that Edwards had just taken his younger brother’s Tesla from the home. Documents state that the mother then tracked the car’s location from her phone and saw that the vehicle was not moving and the trunk was open, so she drove to the crash site.
According to documents, Edwards’ younger brother is usually the only person to drive the Tesla, and he was sleeping when the car was taken. Documents state that the mother said Edwards was not allowed to drive any of the family cars because he drives recklessly and has been in trouble for doing so in the past.
After the crash, officers received a call from Edwards’ older brother, who stated that Edwards had just left his house. Edwards’ older brother stated that Edwards arrived at his house, told him he had been in a crash, and said he might have killed someone.
According to witnesses, before the crash, Edwards had been driving at about 100 mph, changing lanes diagonally and cutting off traffic. A witness stated that the driving appeared reckless and willful, according to documents.
