Lewis County Sirens.com

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A 67-year-old man told deputies his wife “pushed him too far” and he shot her several times with a pistol in Onalaska.

Bruce E. Reed was booked into the Lewis County Jail for second-degree murder.

Law enforcement was called to the couple’s residence on the 200 block of Burchett Road at 9:20 p.m. yesterday for a shooting, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

Reed told deputies the two had argued about remodeling and finances on their home, Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Bruce Kimsey stated in a press release this morning. He told deputies his wife had pushed him too far, according to Kimsey. Arriving deputies found her deceased outside the home, Kimsey said.

The sheriff’s office says it was Reed who called 911. The victim is a 67-year-old woman, whose identity will be confirmed and released by the Lewis County Coroner’s Office. The sheriff’s office investigation is ongoing.

Reed is tentatively scheduled to go before a judge in Lewis County Superior Court at 4 p.m. today.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A 30-year-old man who allegedly tried to end his life by setting a house on fire exited when it got too hot and was arrested for arson in rural Chehalis this weekend.

Deputies responding to the structure fire on the 100 block of Rogers Road at 6:49 p.m. on Saturday said the man and his two children were inside when he lit cardboard boxes, but then he put the kids in a vehicle a distance away from the house, before going back inside.

“He returned back into the home for an additional 10 to 15 minutes before it became too hot,” a deputy wrote in the arrest report.

Ashlynd Simper, 30, from Napavine, was booked into the Lewis County Jail for first-degree arson, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

Neither Simper, nor his 9-year-old son or 6-year-old daughter were injured, according to the sheriff’s office.

Firefighters from Winlock joined crews from Lewis County Fire District 6 on the fully-involved structure fire approximately 6:52 p.m.

Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Bruce Kimsey said he understood Simper was staying in a nearby shop building, with permission, and the house that burned was vacant. The house is owned by a 70-year-old Chehalis man.

The sheriff’s office believes the two children were with Simper in the house when he started the fire and witnessed what he did. “Simper told the deputies he lit the fire intentionally to end his own life,” the deputy wrote.

Charges for reckless endangerment were forwarded to prosecutors as well, according to the sheriff’s office.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A passenger was killed when she was tossed from a Jeep in a rollover collision overnight north of Packwood, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies called about 12:04 a.m. today to the 100 block of Cannon Road indicate the driver, a 22-year-old man from Packwood, was unhurt.

The driver told deputies he was traveling northbound when his vehicle had a mechanical issue and left the road, according to the sheriff’s office. The Jeep rolled multiple times and the passenger was ejected, which left her with fatal injuries, according to sheriff’s Chief Deputy Bruce Kimsey.

The woman who died is identified as a 29-year-old Packwood resident.

Kimsey said it was raining and the roadway was wet. It appears neither were wearing seat belts.

The wreck is being investigated by the sheriff’s office and the Washington State Patrol. Investigators are awaiting blood test results from the driver, according to Kimsey.

Updated at 10 a.m.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A pedestrian was struck and killed on U.S. Highway 12 about two miles west of Mossyrock overnight.

Troopers called about 1:11 a.m. to the scene near Wilson Road were told he was standing in the roadway wearing dark clothing, according to the Washington State Patrol.

The three occupants of the eastbound Ford Focus from Eatonville were unhurt, according to the state patrol.

The pedestrian is identified as 27-year-old Colton M. Lindberg of Toledo.

No charges are expected. It’s unknown if alcohol or drugs were involved, according to the patrol.

The death is the fourth of a pedestrian on a highway in Lewis County since September. Each collision occurred after dark and each victim was a male.

Jordan N. Alvarez Hill, 19, of Toledo, died at the scene after he was hit by a sport utility vehicle on state Route 508 just east of Guerrier Road the evening of Nov. 25.

Brandon C. Ditmeyer, 38, of Peoria, Arizona, was killed when he was struck by a Toyota pickup truck on state Route 508 just east of Interstate 5 the night of Oct. 9.

Richard E. Graham, 45, of Silver Creek, was fatally struck by a hit and run driver on U.S. Highway 12  near Gershick Road on Sept. 24.

State Route 6 was closed for approximately three hours on Saturday evening while troopers investigated a deadly three-vehicle crash. / Courtesy photo by Lewis County Fire District 6

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A 75-year-old woman was killed when her car was struck by two pickup trucks as she was turning on to state Route 6 at Chilvers Road on Saturday.

Margaret A. Garcia, of Chehalis, died at the scene, according to authorities.

Troopers called just before 6:30 p.m. to the area two miles west of Chehalis don’t expect any charges to be filed in connection with the collision, as Garcia had failed to yield the right of way, according to the Washington State Patrol.

Responders found Garcia’s Nissan Sentra had major damage to the driver’s side and observed a large pickup truck resting on its passenger side, according to authorities.

The Nissan had been southbound on Chilvers and attempting a left turn onto the highway, according to the state patrol. It was hit by a westbound Dodge Ram pickup and then hit by an eastbound Ford F150, according to the patrol.

The Dodge Ram was described as totaled but its driver, Michael J. Ayers, 37, of Chehalis was not injured, according to the state patrol. The driver of the F150, Erik L. Due, 25, from Toledo, was also unhurt, the patrol reports.

Lewis County Fire District 6 remained on scene about an hour assisting with the closure of the highway in both directions and cleaning up a small spill.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A 19-year-old Toledo resident was struck and killed by a vehicle on state Route 508 after dark yesterday evening, according to the Washington State Patrol.

Troopers called at 6:20 p.m. to the area just east of Guerrier Road report that Jordan N. Alvarez Hill, died at the scene.

No charges are expected, according to the state patrol.

A 2003 Suzuki XL7 had been traveling eastbound and Alvarez Hill was walking in the roadway wearing dark clothing when he was hit, according to the state patrol.

The driver of the sport utility vehicle, 45-year-old Christopher L. Birnbaum of Napavine, was unhurt and his vehicle was able to be driven away from the scene, according to the investigating trooper.

Deputies and aid had been called at 6:05 p.m. for someone being “disorderly,” according to authorities. The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office says the state patrol is conducting the investigation.