SEATTLE — A second passenger in an SUV that was struck by a falling tree at Lake Crescent on New Year’s Day has died, a Harborview Medical Center official said.
Julie Young, 50, of Federal Way died this week at the Seattle hospital from injuries she sustained in a crash on U.S. Highway 101 on Jan. 1. She had been in a coma in the weeks leading up to her death.
Her 5-year-old grandson, Dezman Harper, died at the scene.
Harper and Young were traveling home to Federal Way with three other family members after visiting a longtime friend for the holidays when their SUV was struck by a 20-inch-thick evergreen tree on the southwest shore of the lake near La Poel, authorities said.
Five-year-old Isabella “Bella” Young, who was seated near Harper, had surgery for a broken back and is paralyzed from the waist down, according to a relative.
Bella spent several weeks at Harborview and was recently transferred to another medical facility, Harborview spokeswoman Susan Gregg said Thursday.
The driver, Robert Young, 51, was discharged from Harborview on Jan. 16.
Two-year-old Tharon Sluharty, who was riding in the backseat with his cousins, was discharged from Harborview on Jan. 4.
A GoFundMe account to help with funeral and medical expenses is at www.gofundme.com/young- family-medical-and-funeral.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsula dailynews.com.
