Lewis County Sirens.com

At the scene at Old Highway 99 near Oregon Trail Road / Courtesy photo by Thurston County Sheriff’s Office

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A teenage driver was killed in a head-on car crash last night in Grand Mound.

Responders called about 11:18 p.m. determined a man traveling north on Old Highway 99 near Oregon Trail Road in a maroon Ford Focus crossed the centerline and struck a southbound red Kia, according to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office.

Firefighters used the Jaws of Life to access their patients,  according to West Thurston Regional Fire Authority.

The Kia’s driver, an 18-year-old female, died just as LifeFlight was landing at Rochester High School, according to authorities.

The other driver was injured and transported to Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, West Thurston Fire Chief Robert Scott said.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Carla Carter indicated this morning the man, in his 20s or 30s, may have been impaired and an investigation into vehicular homicide is underway.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A man wanted for a homicide in Skagit County was arrested this afternoon by Centralia police at a gas station on Mellen Street.

Alberto F. Alaniz

Alberto F. Alaniz, 39, was wanted on a warrant for first-degree murder for a death that occurred on May 4 near Mount Vernon, according to the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office. He was described as recently acting erratic and using drugs and was believed to be armed, according to his wanted flyer.

He has ties here, Centralia Police Department Sgt. Kurt Reichert said.

Police got a phone call today from investigators telling them that Alaniz might be at the Chevron station on Mellen Street, Reichert said.

Reichert and two other officers caught up to him in a place where he really had no place to go, Reichert said.

“We went there and arrested him coming out of the bathroom,” Reichert said. “He didn’t fight or anything.”

He was booked into the Lewis County Jail and law enforcement from Skagit County was to come and pick him up, according to Reichert.

The Skagit County Herald reported last week that Alaniz is suspected in the homicide of 36-year-old Miguel Rene Felix. The two had previously lived together, according to the newspaper.

The Skagit County Sheriff’s Office indicated Alaniz previously lived a short time in Salem, Oregon, but his family moved back to Lewis County. He has ties to Mount Vernon, Chehalis, Centralia and Yakima.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The elderly rural Chehalis man found dead in the woods near his home after not being seen for almost three days died from hypothermia, according to the Lewis County Coroner’s Office.

Warren Neal, 87, was known for often taking walks in the areas around his residence, on the 100 block of Fircrest Road, south of Chehalis.

He was reported missing by family in the early morning hours of May 5 and discovered by search and rescue personnel the following afternoon along one of his commonly traveled trails, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said this afternoon it appears he may have become confused while out walking, there were no physical injuries, and it seemed he may have simply laid down at some point.

“The time frame from when he went missing was around the large rain storm we had,” Breen said.

Hypothermia can be a rapid onset and causes people to even become more confused, according to Breen.

Coroner Warren McLeod has ruled the death accidental. But the sheriff’s office is awaiting the results of tests and the conclusion of a final review before it completes its investigation to make sure they have looked at all angles of the case, according to Breen.
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For background, read “News brief: Elderly Chehalis man found dead in woods near home” from Sunday May 7, 2017, here

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The Lewis County coroner said they have a tentative identification of the person found deceased inside a burning car in Chehalis the weekend before last.

Coroner Warren McLeod said the individual’s next of kin knows but a formal confirmation of who the decedent is will have to come from comparing dental records.

Police and firefighters called to the the scene off the 1900 block of Northeast Kresky Avenue early on the morning of May 6 didn’t know anyone was inside the car until after the fire was extinguished.

The 1992 Honda Accord was registered to a female who was not the victim, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

McLeod indicated the victim is a male. His cause and manner of death won’t be determined until the completion of further studies, according to McLeod.
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For background, read “Chehalis: Body in burned car remains a mystery” from Tuesday May 9, 2017, here

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The Lewis County coroner indicates the cause and manner of death of the Centralia man discovered dead behind a business on South Tower Avenue can’t be determined until the results of toxicology tests come back.

Johnny A. Wright, 49, was found laying on the ground near the railroad tracks the morning of May 5. There were no obvious injuries, according to police.

The Centralia Police Department is investigating.
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For background, read “News brief: Man found dead behind Chevron station was Centralia resident” from Saturday May 6, 2017, here

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The pedestrian who was fatally struck by a vehicle in Grand Mound on Saturday night has been identified as a 28-year-old Centralia resident.

Lifesaving efforts were not effective for James R. Beesley, according to authorities.

Deputies called at approximately 10:30 p.m. to the 20800 block of Old Highway 9 noted the 18-year-old driver of the vehicle was not driving reckless nor under the influence, according to Thurston County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Carla Carter.

It was the teen driver who immediately called 911, according to Carter.