Lewis County Sirens.com

Courtesy photo by Lewis County Fire District 5

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A 92-year-old Winlock woman was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center after a single car wreck today just south of Napavine, according to the Washington State Patrol.

Margaret J. Perrotti had to be extricated from her 1993 Dodge Spirit after it left the roadway and struck an embankment, a power pole and tree before coming to rest on its driver’s side, according to responders.

Fire and aid units from Lewis County Fire District 5 were called shortly after 1 p.m. to the accident on Highway 603, according to District 5 Lt. Laura Hanson. They were assisted by members of District 15, according to hanson.

The state patrol said she was traveling southbound near milepost 8 before the crash occurred. The car was described as totaled.

Perrotti suffered trauma to her chest area, according to the state patrol. The cause is under investigation.

Update Tuesday October 11, 2011: The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reports the driver died.

The state patrol noted Perrotti passed at 10:35 p.m. the night of the wreck.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A 19-year-old Pe Ell woman was injured this morning when her car rolled off state Route 6 near Spooner Road, according to the Washington State Patrol.

Angelina L. Phelps suffered head trauma, cuts and scrapes, the state patrol reported. She was taken to Providence Centralia Hospital.

A trooper called about 8:15 a.m. to the scene described her vehicle as totaled.

Phelps was traveling eastbound when she lost control of her 1999 Acura which came to rest on its top in a ditch, according to the patrol.

Courtesy photo by Washington State Patrol

Update at 2:55 p.m.: All lanes are now open, although traffic is still slow back to the Labree Road interchange

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Northbound Interstate 5 is closed in Centralia with an overturned semi-truck carrying household chemicals blocking the roadway.

It began just before 6 o’clock this morning when the semi and a dump truck collided at the Mellen Street overpass, according to the state Department of Transportation.

It’s not expected to reopen before about 10:30 a.m., according to a DOT spokesperson.

The Department of Ecology is on scene to conduct containment and preparation for cleanup; some of the materials spilled, DOT spokesperson Abbi Russell said this morning.

The Washington State Patrol reported only minor injuries, but Riverside Fire Authority said no one need to be transported to the hospital.

DOT is recommending motorists avoid the area.

Trooper Ryan Tanner said troopers were also called to a log truck wreck on state Route 505 near Interstate 5 about 8 a.m.

Backup in northbound lanes at 13th Street interchange in Chehalis at 1 p.m.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Two young men escaped serious injury when their car ran off the road and down an approximately 25-foot embankment into a small creek yesterday afternoon in Toledo, according to Lewis County Fire District 2.

Fire Chief Grant Wiltbank said one of the pair wasn’t able to walk so firefighters, with the help of several bystanders, used ropes and lifted him up on a stretcher.

It happened off state Route 505 near the Toledo Salmon Creek Road, less than a mile east of town, Wiltbank said.

The Volkswagen landed on its side and fortunately there was only about six-inches of water in the creek bed, according to responders.

Both were taken to Providence Centralia Hospital to be evaluated, Wiltbank said.

The chief said there was a fatal accident a little more than a year ago there in the exact same spot.

One of his firefighters who has lived in the area his entire life told the chief he can think of 15 and maybe even 20 wrecks in the same place over the years, Wiltbank said.

The water there can sometimes be as deep as three to four feet, according to the chief.

“So it looks like this road, it probably needs a guard rail,” he said.

Just Sunday, he was flagged down by a bicyclist there who alerted him to a car at the bottom of the ravine, he said. It’s occupant had apparently gotten out on their own after an accident the night before, the chief said.

A car discovered Sunday afternoon, unoccupied, off state Route 505 near the Toledo Salmon Creek Road / Courtesy photo by Grant Wiltbank