Updated
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – One local man has died on the roads today, the busiest travel day of the year.
The 69-year-old Winlock resident for unknown reasons crossed the center line and struck a pickup truck on Highway 603 in Evaline, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.
It happened just before 4 p.m. and the road was expected to remain closed for a couple of hours, Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said.
The collision followed a series of wrecks on Interstate 5 in Chehalis earlier during the noon hour.
“We had five collisions within moments of each other,” Washington State Patrol spokesperson Trooper Will Finn said. “Two were car-semi, two were two-car … the fifth one I’m not sure.”
“They said it was sunny and all of the sudden a rain burst came through,” Finn said.
Only one person was transported to the hospital, according to the state patrol and the Chehalis Fire Department.
Firefighters were headed to one accident near milepost 79 when they were called to another in the northbound lanes near West Street, according to Fire Capt. Kevin Curfman.
One woman was injured. “Her doors were locked, I took a window out to get access to her,” Curfman said. “Five airbags deployed. They were everywhere.”
Christie L. Wallin, 55, of Centralia, was taken to Providence Centralia Hospital where she is listed in satisfactory condition. Curfman said she had lower leg injuries.
Wallin’s car was totaled. It was part of a three-vehicle rear-ending collision just before 12:30 p.m., according to the Vancouver office of the state patrol.
Finn said the collisions occurred in both north and southbound lanes and were cleared out fairly rapidly.
Later in the day, a brief downpour near Castle Rock and a spinout on a puddle on Interstate 5 contributed to as many as 12 vehicles wrecking [1], although no serious injuries resulted, according to The (Longview) Daily News.
Brown said the Highway 603 crash happened near Schoolhouse Road. A detour was put in place. The 69-year-old driver died en route to the hospital, she said.
His 1997 Chevrolet Malibu was describe as totaled.
The other vehicle, a Ford Ranger pickup, was occupied by a couple from Lake Forest Park, according to the sheriff’s office.
The 47-year-old male driver was taken to Providence with back injuries; his 49-year-old wife cut her head but didn’t need hospitalization, according to Brown.
The state patrol is advising motorists to use extra caution during the busy holiday weekend.
“We just ask people to slow down, and take their time,” Finn said. “So they get to their destination safely.”