News brief: Rear view mirror may lead detective to hit and run driver

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Pieces of a vehicle found at the scene of Saturday night’s hit and run accident that left a 77-year-old pedestrian dead on Interstate 5 are being analyzed in hopes of finding the driver.

Washington State Patrol detective Matt Hughes said they are still looking for witnesses to the incident that killed Lily M. Rowland of Chehalis.

Rowland was found deceased about 10 p.m. on northbound Interstate 5 near the Labree Road interchange south of Chehalis.

They had been getting 911 calls of a person walking in or near the lane of travel before she was hit, Hughes said.

Her family had been looking for her, he said.

“My understanding is she was experiencing dementia-like issues and had walked away from her residence,” Hughes said.

Her home is about a mile from where she was found, according to Hughes. They think she was walking south and he believed she had been missing less than an hour, he said.

Troopers retrieved a rear view mirror and front end parts at the scene.

Hughes said he is expecting later today to learn more about the type of vehicle that was involved.

Anyone with information about what happened is asked to call detective Hughes at 360-449-7944.

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