U.S. Highway 12 at Ethel is closed for hours as troopers investigate two-vehicle crash. / Courtesy photo by Washington State Patrol.
Updated at 1:04 p.m.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
A 16-year-old Onalaska boy was injured and airlifted to a Seattle hospital after a collision with an oncoming semi truck on U.S. Highway 12 west of Ethel yesterday.
Troopers called at 4:15 p.m. to the scene near milepost 70 described both vehicles as totaled.
The driver of the 2012 Volvo semi with a tent trailer was reportedly unhurt.
According to the Washington State Patrol, the teen was traveling westbound and moved into the opposite lane as he attempted a pass in a no-passing zone. He lost control of his 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe, spun around and was struck by the semi in the eastbound lane, according to the state patrol.
A dozen members of Lewis County Fire Districts 5 and 8 responded to the area near Joy Lane, at the top of what some people call Ethel Hill.
Ines D. Lopez, 37, from Granger, was wearing his seatbelt, as was the un-named 16-year-old, the investigating trooper reports.
“We transported him for potential internal injuries,” District 5 Firefighter Brad Bozarth said of the teen. “He was in and out of consciousness.”
The boy was taken by ambulance to the Chehalis-Centralia Airport and flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
The wreck remains under investigation.
The roadway was closed and a detour put into place until about 10 p.m.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
ThIs is josiah romines, i know im late on posting this. But i thank everyone for there prayrs, the only problem i have from this is some short term memory loss. I just now saw this report and most of it is a lie, only half the story is here.
Winnie,
Take her for a stroll through the local auto wrecking yard. You can easily tell the totaled cars that had drivers with seatbelts from the ones that did not. Punched windshields and blood vs. Windshields intack and minimum blood. A graphic testimony for wearing seat belts and keeping all attention on the road.
My best friend… My heart breaks for you Josiah I love you
I just hate stories like this. I hope he doesn’t have any long term physical effects from this accident. I’m so glad he was alone in the vehicle, a passenger might not have been so lucky.
My daughter is going to be behind the wheel soon and part of my preparing her for this massive responsibly is reading local teen accident articles from Sirens. My goal is not to scare her. I want her to know the mistakes young drivers make in hopes she can learn from them, not first hand.
Its too bad life doesn’t come with a rewind button.
Passing in a no-passing zone, he’s lucky to be alive.
Hoping this young man heals and is 100% back to normal soon. Also hoping his mom will be surrounded by good energy, so that she can rest and know her son will be fine. Prayers for all involved