A Life of Service Cut Short: Trooper Guting Killed on WA Highway

The incident on SR 509

The fatal incident occurred around 7:36 PM on Friday, December 19, 2025, on southbound State Route 509 near the Port of Tacoma. Trooper Guting was responding to and investigating a prior two-vehicle collision at the location. According to Washington State Patrol Chief John R. Batiste, she was outside her patrol vehicle and was alone at the scene, with a nearby Washington State Department of Transportation incident response vehicle assisting with traffic control.

A driver struck Guting at the crash site. Authorities confirmed that the driver involved stopped immediately, remained at the scene, and is cooperating with the investigation. The Tacoma Police Department, which is leading the investigation at WSP's request, stated there is no indication the driver acted intentionally. No arrests have been made.

Honoring a servant leader

Trooper Tara-Marysa Guting's life was defined by a profound commitment to service. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, she served for eight years in the Army National Guard as a signals intelligence analyst before joining the Washington State Patrol. She was assigned to the Tacoma detachment after her graduation from the academy.

Colleagues and loved ones remembered her as a dedicated and selfless individual. "She was always someone who was very selfless and always put other people first before herself," said Christopher Govea, a former classmate and co-worker from Hawaii. Guting was married to Timothy Guting, a deputy state fire marshal with the WSP Fire Training Academy. Chief Batiste described the couple as "very young people, very vibrant, and both love the Washington State Patrol and the jobs that they signed up for."

In a somber honor, a procession of law enforcement vehicles escorted Guting from the hospital to the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office late Friday night. Tacoma police officers are maintaining a 24-hour watch over her as arrangements are made to fly her parents from Hawaii to Washington. She is the 34th member of the Washington State Patrol to die in the line of duty in the agency's 105-year history.

A stark reminder for every driver

While the investigation into the specific circumstances continues, this tragedy serves as a critical and urgent reminder for all drivers. Trooper Guting's death underscores the extreme vulnerability of anyone working on the roadside, a category that includes law enforcement, firefighters, tow truck operators, road construction crews, and disabled motorists.

Chief Batiste emphasized the acute nature of the danger, revealing that his agency had received five notifications this week alone of troopers being struck in traffic incidents across Washington state. This statistic transforms a single, heartbreaking loss into a symptom of a widespread safety crisis on our roads.

For the readers of YourAccident.com, this incident connects directly to the core issues of liability, negligence, and shared responsibility. The "Move Over, Slow Down" laws exist in every state for a reason: to create a buffer of safety. Failing to change lanes or reduce speed for emergency vehicles, tow trucks, and any vehicle with hazard lights activated is not just a traffic ticket—it is a gamble with human lives that can result in catastrophic civil and criminal consequences.

As drivers, the most immediate way to honor Trooper Guting’s service is to recommit to vigilant, attentive driving, especially when approaching any activity on the shoulder. Ensuring that those who work to keep our roads safe can return home is a responsibility we all share.