Car's driver badly hurt when hit by board from truck

A 24-year-old woman was seriously injured Sunday night when a chunk of particleboard flew out of a truck and slammed into the windshield of her Jeep.

Maria Federici was driving south on Interstate 405 near Northeast 30th Street in Renton about 11:45 p.m. when a 2-by-6-foot piece of particleboard hit the front of her Jeep, crashed through the windshield and struck her face, police said.

Traveling about 60 mph, the Jeep hit the median and glided until it came to a stop, said Lt. Steve McCulley of the State Patrol.

Federici remained in critical condition yesterday at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, officials said.

Her uncle, Steve Hansen, said the family hopes the truck's driver will contact the State Patrol.

"We are doing about as well as we can under the circumstances, but this is obviously devastating. She was a bright, vital young woman," he said last night. He said Federici received a bachelor's degree in communications from the University of Washington.

Police still are searching for the truck driver. They ask anyone with information to call State Patrol Detective Nate Elias at 425-649-4370.

If found, the truck driver could be charged with hauling an unsecured load, McCulley said, adding that other charges are possible because of the serious nature of the accident.

Staff reporter Nguyen Huy Vu contributed to this report.

Leslie Fulbright: 206-515-5637 or lfulbright@seattletimes.com