MARYSVILLE—On Monday, November 10, the Marysville Police Department conducted a targeted traffic enforcement emphasis along State Avenue between 100th Street NE and 116th Street NE. The operation focused on high-priority violations including speeding and seatbelt usage and was conducted in honor of a young life lost to preventable circumstances. Noah Martinez, the stepson of Marysville Police Officer Sam Gay, tragically died on Sept. 1 as the passenger in a vehicle traveling too fast.
This stretch of State Avenue has become a growing concern following its conversion to a five-lane configuration. Since its opening, the area has experienced a notable increase in crashes, prompting the need for targeted enforcement. During the six-hour operation patrol officers responded to a high number of violations and conducted 80 traffic stops and issued 74 infractions. Two arrests were made for driving with a suspended license.
The data confirms that State Avenue remains a high-violation, high-crash zone. This corridor is one of several locations in Marysville where traffic issues and crashes continue to impact lives. Community response was overwhelmingly positive. Officers received numerous gestures of support from residents along State Avenue, including verbal thanks and social media posts.
One resident said, “Thank you and your officers for the recent efforts on State Ave. I live on State Ave. and have observed the efforts firsthand. Your officer’s work has had positive effect on reducing speeds on State Ave. Again, thank you to you and your team.”
This month Noah would have turned 16 years old. As our department continues to grieve alongside Officer Gay and his family, this operation served as a solemn reminder of the importance of traffic safety.
Author: Lynnwood Times Staff
