By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – The 1-year-old girl who survived the high-speed wreck that killed her mother south of Chehalis over the weekend was released from the hospital yesterday and seems to be doing fine, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office said today.
The car struck at least one tree after hitting a ditch and going airborne, ejecting the baby onto the roadway itself, according to sheriff’s Cmdr. Dusty Breen.
Kelsie Gonzalez, 31, of Chehalis, died at the scene on the 3100 block of Jackson Highway Sunday night. The child was flown by helicopter to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
Breen said the little girl, who just recently had her first birthday, was treated for multiple lacerations and kept at the hospital for observation. She was discharged to her father, he said.
“It’s amazing, when you think about the (damage) and the vehicle going airborne,” Breen said. “That baby is extremely lucky.”
Gonzalez was not wearing a seat belt and died of internal injuries from the impact, according to authorities.
The child’s car seat was found secured into the 1990 Acura, but the straps which would have been holding the baby to its car seat were not fastened. Where or how the little one was situated in the vehicle before the wreck isn’t clear, Breen said.
“It’s probably one of those things we’ll never know,” he said.