Lewis County Sirens.com

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The Washington State Patrol is seeking assistance from anyone who may have witnessed the fatal crash late Sunday night on Interstate 5 just north of Centralia or who observed the Subaru’s driving prior to the collision.

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“The Subaru was likely experiencing some mechanical problems and may have been traveling at slow speeds when struck by the tractor-trailer,” Lt. Randy Hullinger stated in a press release today.

It happened about 11:46 p.m. in the northbound lanes, near milepost 86, approaching the Southwest 216th Avenue overpass in south Thurston County.

The vehicles were a gray 1993 Subaru Legacy and a 2017 Peterbilt with double trailer.

The driver of the Subaru, Edward P. Chambers, 80, of Beaverton, Oregon died, according to the state patrol. His 19-year-old passenger, Scott R. Anderson, of Hillsboro, Oregon, reportedly sustained minor injuries.

They were traveling from Oregon and headed to Rochester, according to Hullinger.

The driver of the semi, 36-year-old Michael L. Buterbaugh of Yelm was unhurt.

Anyone with information is asked to contact detective Jim Meldrum at 253-538-3174 or James.Meldrum@wsp.wa.gov

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For background, read “News brief: Fatal wreck on I-5 north of Centralia under investigation” from Monday July 3, 2017, here

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The occupants of a Centralia home are displaced after a fire yesterday which caused moderate damage, according to Riverside Fire Authority.

Firefighters were called about 4:30 p.m. to the 500 block of South Oak Street on a report there was smoke inside the house, according to Fire Capt. Scott Weinert.

“On arrival, crews located a fire on an exterior corner of the residence,” Weinert wrote in a brief summary of the incident. “The fire was burning inside an exterior wall.”

A crew removed some of the siding and put the fire out, according to Weinert.

There was some smoke damage to the interior of the home.  The cause is under investigation.

It was just a little more than an hour later the fire department was called to a fire that broke out in brush and tall grass on undeveloped property at the 2900 block of Cooks Hill Road. It’s cause has not been determined either, according to the fire department.

“Witnesses in the area did report seeing and hearing fireworks being discharged prior to seeing the fire,” Weinert said.

Old 99 is closed during investigation. / Courtesy photo by Thurston County Sheriff’s Office

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A driver in his late 30s was killed yesterday morning when his car crossed the centerline and hit an oncoming pickup truck on Old Highway 99 west of Tenino.

The driver of the 2007 Chevrolet pickup, a man in his 60s, was flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, according to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Carla Carter said deputies were called to the scene near Tilley Road South at about 8 a.m. His condition is unknown this morning, according to Carter.

The roadway was closed yesterday between Tilley and Violet Prairie roads while the sheriff’s office investigated.

The causing driver had been traveling northbound in a 2004 Acura, according to Carter.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Smoke may continue to linger in the area for several days following a barn fire yesterday morning south of Chehalis, according to Lewis County Fire District 5.

Crews called to the scene along Bishop Road just before 9 a.m were able to prevent the fire from spreading to several adjacent buildings, but the 80-year-old barn and the approximately 5,000 bales of hay it held were destroyed, according to Fire Lt. Laura Hanson.

District 5 units were assisted by Lewis County Fire District 6, the Chehalis Fire and Lewis County Fire District 2, according to Hanson.

Personnel from District 5 are continuing to monitor and mitigate the remaining materials on scene, Hanson stated.

Right lane northbound I-5 near Lewis-Thurston county line closed for investigation. / WSDOT image

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – An 80-year-old motorist is dead after his car was struck by a semi truck late last night on Interstate 5 north of Centralia.

Troopers called about 11:45 p.m. to the northbound lanes near milepost 86 found the Subaru Legacy was totaled.

Edward P. Chambers, 80, of Beaverton, Oregon died, according to the Washington State Patrol. His 19-year-old passenger, Scott R. Anderson, of Hillsboro, Oregon, sustained minor injuries and was treated at Providence St. Peter Hospital, according to the state patrol.

The driver of the 2017 Peterbilt with double trailer, Michael L. Buterbaugh, 36, from Yelm, was uninjured, the investigating trooper reports.

Both vehicles had been in lane one approaching the Southwest 216th Avenue overpass when the big rig hit the car, according to the state patrol.

The collision is under investigation, with charges pending the outcome, but drugs or alcohol are suspected to be involved, according to the state patrol.

Trooper Brooke Bova however Tweeted at 1:34 a.m. that the truck driver was in custody for vehicular homicide.

Bova tweeted again just after 7 a.m. that just as the state patrol was clearing the scene, an inattentive driver struck a WSDOT incident response truck. “No injuries,” she stated.

State Route 108 is closed more than five hours after fatal crash. / Courtesy photo by Jared Biscay

Updated

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A 25-year-old Salkum man was transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle while one of his passengers was taken to a local hospital and another passenger died in a wreck yesterday in Mason County.

His 2002 Chevrolet Silverado was totaled after striking a tree about six miles east of McCleary, according to the Washington State Patrol.

Troopers called at 2 p.m. to the single-vehicle collision on state Route 108 determined Todd V. Jones of Salkum was traveling eastbound at a high rate of speed when he failed to negotiate a curve.

Drugs or alcohol are suspected to be involved, according to the state patrol.

Passenger Morgan I. Hite, 28, from Akron, Indiana, was injured and transported to Mason General Hospital, according to the investigating trooper.

Dead is Harley J. Harmon, 33, from McCleary, according to the state patrol. All three had been wearing seat belts.

The roadway was fully blocked for five and one half hours.

Jones is facing possible charges of vehicular homicide and vehicular assault, according to the Washington State Patrol.

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Six miles east of McCleary, along state Route 108

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Fifty-seven-year-old Jerry Allen Grimm was found dead of exposure in a Centralia park after a night of freezing temperatures this past winter.

The homeless man had been residing in Lewis County’s largest city for about a year and half before his death.

Grimm, who had with him his backpack and all of his belongings at Rotary Riverside Park, was taken into the custody of the Lewis County Coroner’s Office.

Tomorrow, he will be laid to rest.

The coroner’s office will be holding an interment service for Grimm and five other who were unclaimed after their deaths in Lewis County. The urns containing their cremated remains are to be buried at Pioneer Cemetery in south Chehalis.

The public is welcome to attend. The ceremony is set for 11 a.m.

Pioneer Cemetery is located at 2000 Jackson Highway. Parking is available across the street.

The following are the individuals:

• William Reed, 80, Winlock, died Dec. 25, 2016
• Jerry Grimm, 57, Centralia, died Dec. 14, 2016
• Ernest Gilliam, 66, Centralia, died Nov. 6, 2016
• Richard Robinson, 75, Centralia, died Oct. 1, 2016
• Baby boy, seven months gestation, Centralia, died Oct. 30, 2015
• Judy Schmidt, 75, Morton, died May 16, 2015