After four deaths and more than a dozen crashes, survivors of a dangerous stretch of road are suing Island County, saying officials allowed the carnage to continue for more than a decade.
The concern is on a stretch of the 2.8-mile long North Sunrise Boulevard.
Ric and Julie Shallow are among the plaintiffs in the lawsuit.
"There isn't an aspect of our life that has not been impacted," said Julie. "Nothing."
In January of 2016, Ric was on his way to work on Camano Island when he hit black ice and spun into a tree. His head injuries were so severe doctors didn't think he would survive.
Two-and-a-half years later, Ric is still dealing with the aftermath. He suffers deep depression and continuing cognitive impairment.
What hurts most is his inability to sing like he did at his daughters' weddings.
"It's just like two-and-a-half years of my life are just gone," said Ric, breaking down in tears. "I hate to say it, but there are times when I wish I didn't survive."
The Shallows discovered a troubling pattern along North Sunrise Boulevard.
Just one minute before Ric crashed, a woman spun out in that same spot.
In 2005, a man died when he went off the road and hit a tree. A 2006 crash on North Sunrise Boulevard involving a tree claimed another life.
Court documents show, over the past 13 years, at least 18 different crashes occurred along that same stretch of road, including a fiery 2016 accident that took the lives of two children.
That family, along with the Shallows, are now suing Island County for negligence.
"We argue there was plenty of opportunities for the county to remediate the road. Cutting down the trees would have been the cheapest, easiest way to protect motorists," said attorney Mike Maxwell.
Island County Commissioner Richard Hannold told KING 5 he could not comment on the lawsuit but said he did order a traffic study for North Sunrise Boulevard prior to the 2016 incident that killed those two children.
The county has since cut down trees, reduced the speed limit and put up a guardrail.
But it all comes too late for Ric, Julie and so many others.
"This isn't something you walk away from and life goes on," said Julie. "It's gonna be forever."
