Yakima man dead after driving into Federal Way retention pond

A man from Yakima was killed after his vehicle drove into a retention pond off of Interstate 5 Wednesday morning.

According to Trooper Rick Johnson with Washington State Patrol, a witness saw the man’s 1995 Honda Passport drive off the southbound ramp of exit 143 that leads to South 320th Street in Federal Way.

South King Fire and Rescue Deputy Chief Gordy Goodsell said the 911 call came in at 5:33 a.m., and first responders got there at 5:38 a.m.

“On arrival, we found the vehicle upside down in the retention pond, which is about 6-feet deep,” Goodsell said.

Two South King Fire and Rescue swimmers swam down and located the man near his vehicle. Rescuers performed CPR on him, but the man had died.

Goodsell estimated his vehicle traveled about 250 feet from the guard rail before it came to rest in the pond.

Johson said it’s not yet clear if snow or residual ice played a factor in the man’s death. Washington State Patrol is still investigating.