OLYMPIA, Wash. (KIRO) – A 70-year-old grandmother visiting family in Washington state was killed when deputies say a driver trying to flee from them crashed into the family’s car head-on.
The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office says 33-year-old Nicole Romanoff was driving a stolen car just before 5 p.m. Saturday night and refused to pull over. She allegedly struck another car head-on, killing 70-year-old Gina Munna and injuring at least two other people.
The victim’s sons, including Greg Munna, are devastated and angry. The 70-year-old had just arrived in Olympia to celebrate her last surviving sister’s birthday.
“It’s a pretty crushing blow and very hard news. It’s just really tough to hear,” Greg Munna said.
Romanoff was initially accused of approaching residents in East Lacey and asking for fentanyl. When a resident asked her to leave, she allegedly accelerated toward him, forcing him to run to safety.
Deputies say they figured out the SUV that Romanoff was driving was stolen out of King County. Then, a deputy spotted her driving the wrong way on Pacific Avenue Southeast in Olympia.
Gina Munna’s brother-in-law, Bruce Clark, had just turned onto Pacific before the fatal crash.
“I didn’t get very far before this big car just came barreling, crossed the line… It straightened up and plowed right into us head-on,” Clark said.
He and his wife both suffered broken vertebrae, and three of his wife’s ribs are broken, too. He says Romanoff appeared barely hurt.
“Apparently, she wasn’t injured too much,” Clark said.
The family is now left mourning Gina Munna, a loving wife, mother of two and grandmother of four. The Thurston County coroner says her autopsy will be performed Tuesday.
Romanoff is being held for investigation on eight charges, including vehicular homicide and second-degree murder. She reportedly has a long rap sheet.
“It’s really upsetting. Why that person is out on the streets is very surprising, to say the least,” Greg Munna said. “What are we going to do about changing the policies to make sure that known criminals are behind bars and can’t impact the lives of innocent people?”
Romanoff is expected to make her first court appearance Tuesday.
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