Breaking news: Low-speed crash should not have killed Randle man on Highway 12, patrol says

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

The Randle man who died when his car  hit a rock wall along U.S. Highway 12 near Packwood on Saturday has been identified as 62-year-old Donald G. Diemert.

The Washington State Patrol initially reported his age was 63.

Troopers called just before 11 p.m. Saturday reported Diemert was heading westbound when his car struck a guard rail along the right shoulder and then traveled back across three lanes to run head-on into the rock wall on the opposite side of the highway.

It happened about six miles east of Packwood near the state Route 123 cutoff.

A black Labrador dog in the car with Diemert survived the wreck, according to the Washington State Patrol.

State Patrol Sgt. Jason Ashley said it was not a high speed collision and they’ve order an autopsy as they investigate the cause.

“The dynamics didn’t really show he should have succumbed,” Ashley said. “We’re not really sure what happened.”

The passenger compartment wasn’t compromised, although there was some front end damage to the 1994 Pontiac Grand Am, according to Ashley.

It may have been a medical issue, he said. It’s unknown if drugs or alcohol were involved, according to the state patrol.

Diemert was reportedly not wearing a seatbelt.

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