Updated 5:44 p.m.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
The woman who died after she jumped from a moving vehicle on Interstate 5 in Centralia on Friday night has been named as Jamie M. Jacaway, 27, of Chehalis.
Jacaway had been at the Grace Foursquare Church in Centralia and asked for a ride from someone there who was heading to Chehalis, according to the Washington State Patrol.
Robert Hicks offered and they got on the freeway at Harrison Avenue, and as they reached about milepost 80 traveling at ordinary freeway speed, Jacaway opened the passenger door and jumped out, according to the state patrol.
Hicks stopped immediately and no foul play is suspected, Trooper Ryan Tanner said.
Jacaway had ended up at the church on Borst Avenue as she had caught a ride with someone heading to a program there; she was trying to get to the women’s shelter.
Tammy Carr, director of the Friday night 12-step recovery event that was under way, said Jacaway was acting erratic and clearly not doing well. They tried to get her help, tried to get her to eat, but to no avail, Carr said. They attempted to get her to stay for the 12-step meeting but she didn’t want to come in, Carr said.
The finally called police about 7:15 p.m.
Carr said Jacaway had left and came back, and then kept trying to flag down people outside, stepping into the road.
“We knew we couldn’t keep her here, we were afraid she would get hurt, or something horrible would happen,” Carr said.
By the time an officer arrived, she had left in the van, according to police.
By about 7:50 p.m., police learned of the fatality on southbound Interstate 5.
Centralia Police Department Cmdr. Jim Rich said this afternoon he’s met Jacaway several times on the job.
“Most of the calls where I dealt with her on patrol were from concerned passersby or neighbors, asking please take a look and check on this woman,” Rich said.
She’s been in the community for quite some time.
“We’ve tried to hep her, and connect her with various agencies,” he said. “I wouldn’t even try to guess what the cause of it all was.”
The Lewis County Coroner’s Office is working with her mother and father who are making funeral arrangements, according to Chief Deputy Coroner Dawn Harris.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter