Mother accused of trying to kill daughters in freeway crash and knife attack as soldiers step in

A Washington state mother accused of trying to kill her daughters with a knife and a freeway crash now faces attempted murder charges after soldiers and another bystander stepped in to stop the alleged attack.

Janieka Amber Marie Ellington, 35, faces four counts of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of vehicular assault and one count of felony harassment involving threats to kill, according to Pierce County Superior Court records.

Prosecutors allege she tried to kill the girls both by stabbing or cutting them and by crashing their vehicle, according to charging documents.

The case stems from Monday morning’s rollover wreck on southbound Interstate 5 near DuPont, where witnesses said Ellington chased her teenage daughter with a knife and threatened to kill her after the crash, FOX 13 Seattle reported.

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Three bystanders, including two soldiers, disarmed Ellington and restrained her until Washington State Patrol troopers arrived, the outlet reported.

"I just did my part," Sgt. Ricardo A. Nunez, a 7th Infantry Division soldier stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, said, according to FOX 13.

"I am glad I was there to help those girls and was just in the right place at the right time."

Court records show a judge ordered a competency evaluation Tuesday. A competency hearing is scheduled for Oct. 20.

Troopers responded shortly before 9 a.m. Monday to reports of an SUV driving erratically near mile marker 118, according to FOX 13.

In its initial report, the outlet stated that the SUV struck a concrete barrier, veered toward the right shoulder and then crossed back into traffic, hitting a semi-truck. It struck the barrier again and rolled over near Center Drive, Exit 118.

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Ellington told hospital staff and troopers she had been drinking whiskey the night before and was driving without sleep, according to court records. One of her daughters told investigators Ellington believed people were following them before the crash.

A 9-year-old girl suffered multiple broken bones and a stab wound, while a 15-year-old girl was hospitalized without serious injuries, according to the outlet.

Witness Nathan Wilkinson told KING 5 he was driving to work when he came upon the wreck and saw two men in military uniforms from Joint Base Lewis-McChord intervene.

"There's people standing around, then all of a sudden there was a flash, and then the two soldiers jumped on a person. … I heard a scream at that time," Wilkinson told the outlet. "I saw one of the soldiers had a knife in his hand that he had dislodged from the person they tackled."

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Wilkinson called 911 as bystanders subdued the woman, KING 5 reported. 

The attempted murder charges include two counts alleging Ellington intended to kill by stabbing or cutting and two alleging she intended to kill through a vehicle crash, according to the charging documents.

Prosecutors also alleged domestic violence and aggravating circumstances, including that Ellington used a position of trust to facilitate the offenses and that the victims were particularly vulnerable or unable to resist.

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Wilkinson said he hoped the service members would be recognized for stopping to help.

"They didn't run away, they didn't pass, drive on by. They stopped and helped," he told KING 5.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Washington State Patrol, Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and Joint Base Lewis-McChord for comment.

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