The ruling allows the prosecution to move forward after a competency evaluation temporarily delayed proceedings in the Interstate 5 case.
TACOMA, Wash. — A Pierce County woman accused of deliberately crashing an SUV with her two daughters inside and attacking them with a knife has been found competent to stand trial, clearing a major procedural hurdle in a case involving multiple attempted murder charges.
Janieka Amber Marie Ellington, 35, had been ordered to undergo a competency evaluation after her arrest in connection with the Oct. 5 incident on Interstate 5 near DuPont. The competency question delayed the normal course of the criminal case while evaluators considered whether she was able to understand the proceedings and assist with her defense. With the court finding her competent, the felony prosecution can continue.
Ellington faces four counts of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of vehicular assault and one count of felony harassment, according to reports citing Pierce County Superior Court records and charging documents. The allegations remain unproven, and the competency finding does not determine whether Ellington committed the crimes charged against her.
Prosecutors allege Ellington was driving south on Interstate 5 with her daughters shortly before 9 a.m. Oct. 5 when the SUV began moving erratically near DuPont. Investigators said the vehicle struck a concrete barrier, crossed traffic, collided with a semi-truck and hit a barrier again before rolling onto its side near Center Drive.
Charging documents allege the crash was intentional and was one of two ways Ellington tried to kill the children. Authorities said the confrontation continued after the rollover, when Ellington allegedly used a knife against one daughter and pursued the other outside the damaged vehicle.
Both children were taken to hospitals after the crash and alleged attack. Earlier reporting said the younger daughter suffered broken bones and a stab wound. Authorities have not publicly released detailed, current information about the girls’ recovery, and their names have not been published because they are minors.
Bystanders intervened before state troopers arrived. Reports said people with military backgrounds, including personnel associated with Joint Base Lewis-McChord, helped disarm and restrain Ellington at the roadside. Their actions ended the confrontation after the vehicle overturned and the children escaped or were removed from the wreckage.
Investigators also examined alcohol use as part of the case. Charging documents cited in earlier reports said Ellington acknowledged drinking whiskey the previous night and had not slept before the morning drive. Her daughters told investigators that their mother had awakened them and said she believed people were following them before they left in the vehicle. Those accounts are allegations contained in the investigation and have not been tested at trial.
The competency issue arose shortly after charges were filed. Competency proceedings address whether a defendant is presently able to participate meaningfully in a criminal case; they do not decide guilt, innocence or a defendant’s mental state at the time of an alleged offense. The finding means Ellington’s case may proceed through the next stages of the Superior Court process.
Ellington remains accused, not convicted, of the seven felony counts. The court’s competency ruling returns the focus of the case to the criminal charges stemming from the Interstate 5 crash and alleged knife attack as proceedings continue in Pierce County Superior Court.
Author note: Last updated October 21, 2026.