[1]A Dodge Neon was rear ended, shoved into a truck and then hit from behind again on Interstate 5 in Centralia. / Courtesy photo by Washington State Department of Transportation
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Two teenagers from Winlock were injured in a five vehicle chain reaction collision on Interstate 5 in Centralia this afternoon.
The Dodge Neon they were traveling in was struck from behind by a box truck and pushed into a pickup truck, according to Washington State Patrol.
Troopers and aid were called about 12:45 p.m. to the northbound lanes in between the Mellen Street and Harrison Avenue interchanges.
Taylor J. White, 18, and Arizona R. Meyer, 17, were transported to Providence Centralia Hospital with non-life threatening injuries, according to responders.
“I’m pretty sure they’ll be discharged tonight,” Riverside Fire Authority Firefighter Tera Green said. “They were very lucky.”
The 2001 Isuzu box truck driven by Grady J. Bowman, 23, of Napavine, came to rest on the right shoulder and a Jeep Wrangler which was following too closely was unable to stop before colliding with the Neon and pickup, according to the Washington State Patrol.
The Neon was totaled.
The driver of the Jeep, Susan M. Creighton, 38, of Randle, was injured as well but not hospitalized, according to the state patrol.
The wrecks were blamed on inattention.
Citations were to be issued to Bowman for second-degree negligent driving and to Creighton for following too closely, according to the patrol.
Able to be driven from the scene were a Crown Victoria and the Ford pickup, the investigating trooper reports.
[2]Back side of the Dodge Neon. / Courtesy photo by Aaron Towman