Authorities have identified the three people killed in last week’s high-speed crash in Spanaway that left a vehicle torn in half after it struck trees along Military Road East.
According to the Pierce County Medical Examiner, the driver was Maurice Donnelle Brooks, 48, of Tacoma. Also killed was Keanae Mahealani Ka’ānapu Kelly Omoto, 37, of Puyallup, who was riding in the back seat.
The King County Medical Examiner identified the front-seat passenger as Janet Linkee, 53, of Seattle. Linkee was taken to a hospital in critical condition after the crash but later died from her injuries.
The crash occurred at about 8:30 p.m. June 19 in the 400 block of Military Road East.
Brooks was driving at a high rate of speed when he swerved to avoid a man mowing his front lawn, according to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies said Brooks overcorrected, left the roadway and crashed into a tree. The impact split the vehicle in half.
Investigators also reported finding numerous empty alcohol containers inside the wreckage and said they believe alcohol was a factor in the crash.
Family remembers Keanae Kelly Omoto
As loved ones continue to grieve, Kelly Omoto’s family has launched a GoFundMe to help cover funeral expenses and transport her remains back to her native Hawai’i.
“Keanae Mahealani Ka’ānapu Kelly Omoto was a once-in-a-lifetime soul,” her family wrote on the fundraising page. “She was the kind of person who could light up any room simply by walking into it.”
Her family described her as someone who was “always smiling, always willing to make a new friend, and always finding ways to bring joy to the people around her.”
“Everyone who knew Keanae loved her, and anyone fortunate enough to meet her was better for it,” the fundraiser states.
The family said Kelly Omoto had been planning a surprise trip home to Hawaii just days after the crash.
“But she never got to make it to see that day,” the fundraiser states.
“She was a backseat passenger in that vehicle. She was not behind the wheel. She did not make the decisions that led to that crash,” her family wrote. “She did not choose the speed, the risk, or the actions that followed.”
Her family described the loss as one that forever changed their lives.
“One moment she was here—laughing, loving, making memories, and planning for tomorrow,” the fundraiser states. “The next, we have to wipe our tears and fight to make funeral arrangements.”
They remembered Kelly Omoto as “a daughter. A wife. A sister. An aunty. A cousin. A granddaughter. A cherished friend.”
“Keanae was so much more than a victim in an accident report, and she shouldn’t be associated with the choices that someone else had made,” the family wrote.
Friends also remember Janet Linkee
Friends also shared tributes to Janet Linkee following her death.
“You were such a beautiful soul,” Tami Sotelo-Otto wrote in a Facebook tribute.
The GoFundMe states that donations will help cover funeral, memorial and transportation expenses so Kelly Omoto can be laid to rest in Hawaii.
Those wishing to support the family can donate via GoFundMe here.
