By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
The 70-year-old man who was killed in a car wreck on Tuesday morning in Vader died from his injuries, a death that is ruled accidental following an autopsy.
Lewis County Coroner Warren McLeod said that still doesn’t explain why Richard T. Brunaugh missed a stop sign and slammed into a concrete wall across from the south end of Winlock-Vader Road.
The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office which investigated the wreck said his vehicle was traveling southbound at a high rate of speed and crossed state Route 506 for unknown reasons.
Brunaugh died upon impact and was ejected, according to authorities. He’s from Cottage Grove, Ore.
His cocker spaniel that was traveling with him survived initially, but with severe spinal injuries. The Lewis County Animal Shelter was planning to euthanize the dog on Wednesday after consultation between a local veterinarian and Brunaugh’s former wife who previously co-owned the pet.
McLeod said the pathologist will be conducting further studies to see if there were any contributing factors that led to the accident.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter