PORT TOWNSEND — No decision had been made as of Wednesday about possible charges in connection with the death of a Quilcene teenager, the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said.
Ruby-Jean Murray, 14, of Brinnon died Tuesday morning from injuries sustained when a truck rolled over on her on Sunday.
The driver of the truck, Tyson Svetich, 18, will be charged, according to Jefferson County Sheriff Tony Hernandez.
He said it would be up to the prosecuting attorney’s office as to what the charges would be — vehicular homicide, vehicular assault, negligent driving or a combination.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Walter Perry said Wednesday that the office has not yet addressed the case.
He said he didn’t know when a decision might be made.
Murray was in the bed of a pickup truck with two friends when Svetich made a sudden move, throwing two of the girls from the truck while pinning Murray underneath the vehicle, which had rolled over, according to Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputies.
The teen, daughter of Tim and Vikki Murray of Brinnon, was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center, where she died of her injuries at 8:15 a.m. Tuesday, Hernandez said.
Svetich, of Quilcene, graduated last month from Quilcene High School, where he played baseball, basketball and football.
He has not been arrested and is not in custody, Hernandez said.
The King County Medical Examiner had not issued a report as of Wednesday afternoon.
Murray’s death shocked her small south county hometown, where everyone knows everyone else and many residents had known her since birth.
“She really was a shining star,” Vikki Murray said Tuesday of her daughter.
“She was kind and loving and always wanted everyone to be happy. She had a lot of friends and was full of life.”
A memorial service is planned at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Quilcene School, 294715 U.S. Highway 101, where Ruby-Jean Murray would have entered ninth grade in September, her mother said.
Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
