Two trucks crash at busy Everett intersection, one driver killed

Two semi-trucks collided at an intersection near Everett Mall this morning, killing one driver and sending the other driver briefly to a hospital, police said.

Everett police were called to the intersection of state Highway 526 and Southeast Everett Mall Way around 4:15 a.m. for reports of the crash. Officers have not determined the cause of the accident; they are looking into who had the green light, said Sgt. Robert Goetz.

There are traffic lights at the intersection, so the accident may have been caused "by a failure to yield," Goetz said. "We don't know who may have had the red light or green light," Goetz said.

The victim, identified by the Snohomish County Medical Examiner as Viktor Stelmakh, 57, was driving north on Southeast Everett Mall Way in a semi without a trailer.

The other driver, a 32-year-old man from Fife, was operating a big rig with a trailer, and traveling east on Highway 526, Goetz said. The Fife man's identity wasn't released by police.

Stelmakh was ejected from his vehicle. Investigators are looking into whether he was wearing a seat belt, Goetz said.

The other semi driver was taken to Everett Providence Medical Center and later released.

Highways 526 and 527 near the Everett Mall were closed for nearly 6 hours while investigators completed their work.

Detectives are asking for witnesses to call the Everett Police Department tip line at 425-257- 8450.

Sonia Krishnan: 206-515-5546 or skrishnan@seattletimes.com