Driver of pickup truck arrested on suspicion of drunken driving

By Dennis Box

The Courier-Herald

An accident involving a motorcycle and a small pickup resulted in the death of 48-year-old Robert Carmody of Bonney Lake.

According Pierce County Sheriff's Department spokesman Ed Troyer, Carmody was riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle eastbound on Rhodes Lake Road at 6 p.m. Saturday.

A 24-year-old Puyallup man was driving a pickup and crossed the centerline while going westbound on Rhodes Lake Road near 170th Avenue East.

According to witnesses at the scene, the pickup hit the motorcycle and apparently rolled over the victim.

Emergency personnel from East Pierce Fire and Rescue treated Carmody at the scene. He was transported to Tacoma General Hospital where he died upon arrival.

The driver of the pickup was treated at Tacoma General for minor injuries. Troyer said blood was drawn at the hospital and the suspect was later arrested on suspicion of drunken driving.

According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Office, the pickup driver had a previous drunken driving arrest and was operating his vehicle with a probationary license and without valid insurance.

Dennis Box can be reached at dbox@courierherald.com.