Tommy Fairbairn Death – A man from Columbus and a soldier from Lewis-McChord lost their lives in a tragic two-vehicle collision on Sunday morning in Tacoma, Washington. Tommy Fairbairn, 29, from Columbus, was driving westbound with two passengers on State Route 512 near Canyon Road East on June 2.
“We are saddened to learn that two 7th Infantry Division soldiers passed following an off-post vehicle accident the morning of June 2, 2024. One additional 7th Infantry Division soldier was admitted to the hospital where they have since been released. Our thoughts are with the families and friends of these soldiers during this difficult time. This incident remains under investigation.”
The victim vehicle was struck head-on by a wrong-way driver, Candy Soita, 23. Fairbairn and Wendell Cerio, 22, from Arizona, succumbed to their injuries at the scene. Both men were stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. The suspect driver, Soita, is in custody facing two charges of DUI vehicular homicide.
She had a 19-month-old child in the car with her. Fairbairn, a Columbus native, graduated from Shaw High School in 2013.
