A Washington mother is facing seven felony charges after prosecutors alleged she crashed on Interstate 5 and then attacked her two daughters with a knife.
Janieka Amber Marie Ellington, 35, was taken into custody after the October 5 crash in DuPont. Her daughters, ages 9 and 15, were hospitalized and expected to survive. The younger girl reportedly suffered broken bones and a stab wound.
The case now involves allegations of dangerous driving, threats to kill, a knife attack, and two separate ways prosecutors say Ellington tried to harm each child.
The crash came before the attack
Washington State Patrol said Ellington was driving erratically shortly before 9 a.m. on southbound I-5 near Center Drive, Exit 118. Her Volkswagen Tiguan struck a barrier, crossed the freeway, hit a semi-truck, and then slammed into another barrier before rolling over.
After the SUV stopped, all three occupants were able to get out. Investigators allege Ellington then took out a knife and went after the girls.
Several people stopped at the scene. According to an account shared after the incident, two men in military uniforms intervened, tackled the attacker, and recovered the knife. Their intervention helped get the girls away from the immediate danger.
A 35-year old woman stabbed two children, 9 and 15, in DuPont, Washington yesterday morning after a rollover crash shortly before 9am.
The car was driving erratically, hit a semi-truck, then a concrete barrier before rolling over. Several people stopped to help, including two… pic.twitter.com/WRe8m10iX6
— Goldielocks 1776 (@GoldieLocks1776) October 6, 2026
Both girls were taken for medical care. Reports said they were in stable condition and expected to survive, although the 9-year-old sustained serious injuries, including broken bones and a stab wound.
Mother Allegedly St@bs Two Young Daughters on Washington’s I-5, Disarmed by Bystanders pic.twitter.com/Mwsqkjo9Sj
— Instablog9ja (@instablog9ja) October 6, 2026
Prosecutors say the danger started hours earlier
The older daughter told a trooper that Ellington woke both girls during the night and said people were following them. The daughter said they left and drove for roughly three hours before beginning the trip back home.
According to that account, Ellington threatened to kill both children before the people she believed were following them could do so. Prosecutors separately filed a felony harassment charge tied to those alleged threats.
King 5 reported that the charges filed in Pierce County Superior Court include four counts of attempted murder, two counts of vehicular assault, and one count of felony harassment. The attempted-murder counts are split between the alleged knife attacks and the crash, with two counts involving each daughter.
Prosecutors allege the acts were carried out with premeditated intent. Those claims remain allegations, and Ellington has not yet been arraigned.
🚨#BREAKING: Outrage is erupting after a Washington mother wrecked her car, got out and attacked her own CHILDREN WITH A KNIFE…
…then 2 United States SOLDIERS who happened to be passing by jumped out, TACKLED HER TO THE GROUND, AND TOOK THE KNIFE!!!!
The girls are 9 and 15… pic.twitter.com/PFBCoqeNf3
— Matt Van Swol (@mattvanswol) October 6, 2026
The mother remains held without bail
Ellington was discharged from the hospital and remains in custody. A judge ordered that she be held without bail while officials assess whether she can understand the charges and participate in the court process.
The competency determination will take place before the case moves forward. Ellington has not been arraigned on the seven felony charges.