Updated at 1:10 p.m.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Deputies are looking for the driver of a Sport Utility Vehicle who fled on foot from the scene of a serious injury accident last night in Chehalis.
Firefighters and police called about 7:15 p.m. to the intersection of Bishop and Maurin roads found an eastbound Chevrolet Tahoe had run a red light and struck the side of a southbound Nissan Altima.
Responders had to use the Jaws of Life on the smaller car to extricate the passenger.
“She was the one we Life Flighted from Chehalis Middle School,” Lewis County Fire District 6 Firefighter Mike Goodwillie said. “(Her injuries) were serious enough, we wanted the helicopter as close as possible.”
The 24-year-old woman from Tacoma was going to be flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, but was taken instead to St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma, according to responders.
The car’s driver, a 19-year-old woman from Chehalis, was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital with less serious injuries, according to Goodwillie.
Troopers, deputies and police from Chehalis and Centralia searched the area and later located a passenger from the SUV, a 21-year-old man from Kent.
He was taken into custody by Chehalis police for a warrants and cited for third-degree theft in connection with an iPhone stolen from Radio Shack at the Twin City Town Center which occurred just before 7:10 p.m.
Sheriff’s Sgt. Rob Snaza said the SUV’s driver is believed to be a 20-year-old Tacoma man who was driving with a suspended license.