Austin Courtright with his daughter. / Courtesy photo
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Family and friends of Austin Courtright are gathering this evening at Logan Park to share memories of the 19-year-old and then carry candles in a walk along the route of the final ride that took his life.
Courtright was born and raised in Centralia.
He died early yesterday morning after his he lost control of his car at the 300 block of West Sixth Street at the north end of town.
A Centralia police officer on patrol noticed the car in an alley near the intersection of Oxford Avenue and Marion Street, which then pulled away, turning without signaling , according to police.
Courtright sped away and less than a dozen blocks to the west, he lost control of his Acura, which slid along the side of a house, according to police.
He was ejected and died at the scene. His two passengers, both 25-year-old women from Chehalis, were airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with serious injuries, according to authorities.
Centralia Police Department Officer John Panco said he doesn’t know why the 19-year-old sped away. He did have an outstanding warrant, Panco said.
“We don’t have a chance to ask him, so we don’t know for sure,” Panco said.
Courtright has nine brothers and sisters. His father Scott Courtright lives in Centralia. His mother Deanna Johnson lives in Montana.
He’d recently begun working construction in Seattle, and the car was new, his mother said.
“He’d just bought that, with his own money,” she said.
Last year, Courtright accidentally shot his girlfriend in the thigh, with a pistol in his pocket while she was sitting on his lap, and he pleaded guilty as charged and was given a prison term of a year and a day. His lawyer at the time said he wasn’t suggesting Courtright plead to the charge, but he did anyhow.
Taking responsibility for that was something he felt he had to do, Johnson said.
“Austin was a terror, believe me, he was a handful,” she said. “But when it came down to it, he always told the truth and wanted to do the right thing.”
Johnson said he was getting the paperwork in order so he could move to Montana, while still under supervision with the state Department of Corrections.
“We were on our way here anyhow, to pick him up,” she said this afternoon.
Panco said he didn’t have an update on the how the passengers were doing.
The Washington State Patrol is conducting the investigation into the wreck.
The vigil is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the park in the Logan District.
•••
For background, read “One dead, two injured after Centralia police pursuit ends with wreck” from Monday October 24, 2016, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
scott praying for peace this sherman guy mustve been a nazi in another life special place in hell for him
listen sherman, i pray your 0h so perfect world never feels tradgedy, i d. drug addiction is not a choice,noone would choose it. trailerpark?now othats just insulting, who cares where someone was raised.my ancestors lived in tee pees, so we should all be dispendable right?praying for you
I didn’T know Austin but I know his Aunt and I’m sure there are alot of positive things about Austin that people could be talking about instead of all the negative. Everybody was young once and made bad choices but it doesn’T mean you are a bad person. RIP Austin
@transformer how can you blame police for this? If you see lights do you run or pull over? The cop had nothing to do with the accident and there is no report on how fast the cop was going.
Reproduce and die, the tragically short life cycle of a trailer park boy. The pain and suffering he caused to others will last their lifetimes too.
This story puts a different perspective on things, and I appreciate the added details that you’d never see in the mainstream media. Sounds like he was just a crazy kid who was trying to live right, hey we were all 19 once. But you should stop blaming the police, he could have pulled over.
The police state kills again. CPD Deplorable. What happened to freedom, the people are Governed by Petty laws when it comes to the Right to travel. The Pursuit should of been called off. The first article about the police incident admits to the excessive speed of the vehicle. Police say they couldn’t keep up with the car. What does that tell you? High rate of speed through our city streets. Demand Dash Cameras in Lewis County Police Vehicles. Austin’s Law #AustinsLaw
I remember austin. He’s just a kid. It’s a shame to go out so young, no body deserves to bury their child. I know he loved a rough life but no one should have to die like this. Sad. Lewis county is such a terrible place. It’s a succubus that destroys even the best people. Does anyone know who the girls are he was with? R.I.P
I love you Austin… forever &always… you’ve been such a huge impact on my life.. its so unrealbyoure gone… I miss you so much.. keep your head up, rest in paradise boo.. ♡♥♡♥
This pains me immensely to see this. It always does especially when seeing that we are going to have to bury yet another person I went to school with. Yes Austin carried himself like I thug but deep down he was a nice kid. It is a shame to see you gone. RIP AUSTIN COURTWRIGHT!!!!!! May your family and friends have closure from your quick and sudden departure.