Lewis County Sirens.com

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The Lewis County coroner says 21-year-old Austin Smith died of a gunshot wound to the chest.

The manner of death has been labeled a homicide, but the sheriff’s office yesterday said they were investigating the circumstances which a witness said was an accidental discharge by Smith’s 20-year-old brother who was handling a firearm at a residence on the 500 block of Third Street in Pe Ell.

Aid and deputies were called to the home just before 9 a.m. on Saturday, but Smith died enroute to the hospital. Both men are residents of Pe Ell.

Coroner Warren McLeod also released the name of the 46-year-old man found dead by his girlfriend in the 300 block of Mandy Road outside Toledo near an Interstate 5 overpass about noon on Saturday.

Christopher E. Torkelson, 46, of Toledo, died from multiple blunt force injuries to the head, neck chest and back, according to McLeod.

The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help to figure out what happened. They said the girlfriend told them  she had last seen him late Friday night into Saturday morning and was looking for him.

A determination on his manner of death won’t come until after further investigation and the results of toxicology tests, according to McLeod.

Updated

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A passenger was airlifted after a sport utility vehicle lost its right rear tire, hit the concrete median and then rolled across Interstate 5 coming to rest on a guardrail in south Chehalis yesterday evening.

Troopers and aid called about 5:15 p.m. to the northbound lanes near milepost 75 found the red Ford Explorer with its roof severely crushed in, according to responders.

Chehalis Fire Department Chief Ken Cardinale said the crew had to use special tools to extricate the injured person. Juan B. Lorerez, 27, from Longview, was transported to the Chehalis airport and LifeFlight took him to Tacoma General Hospital, according to Cardinale and the Washington State Patrol.

Lewis County Fire District 6 spokesperson DJ Hammer said he understood the  victim, with possible head injuries, was flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

The driver, 30-year-old Yimy A. Escobararriga, also from Longview, was treated at the scene and then released.

Another northbound vehicle struck the tire in the left lane, causing some damage, according to the state patrol.

The investigating trooper reports the tire had blown and the cause of the wreck was defective equipment. Escobararriga was to be cited for not having insurance.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The cause of a fire that consumed a Bucoda area home yesterday is undetermined but not suspicious, according to Thurston County Fire District 12.

Crews called about noon yesterday to the 20700 block of Bucoda Highway, also known as state Route 507, found a double wide mobile home fully involved in flames, Fire Capt. Dan Mahoney said.

Mahoney said he understood the family had gotten out before his arrival.

Firefighters were joined by members of five neighboring fire departments to battle the blaze. The home and its contents are a total loss, Mahoney said.

The Red Cross was contacted to assist the occupants.

“The biggest thing is, no injuries,” Mahoney said. “Everyone went home safe and sound.”

Firefighter checks the attic to look for fire extension. / Courtesy photo by Lewis County Fire District 6

Updated

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A fire that severely damaged the interior of a rural Chehalis house appears to have begun as a chimney fire but remains under investigation.

Crews were called just after 12:15 a.m. on Tuesday to the 1600 block of Pleasant Valley Road southeast of Chehalis and found the fire had spread, according to Lewis County Fire District 6.

Nobody was injured and one occupant who was home at the time got out because she was alerted by a working smoke detector, according to responders. Three dogs escaped safely as well, Fire Chief Tim Kinder said.

District 6’s DJ Hammer said they were joined by personnel from Lewis County Fire Districts 5, 13 and the Chehalis Fire Department.

He described the home as a complete loss.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Five men were arrested after drug detectives served search warrants at four linked illegal marijuana growing operations in southwest Thurston County and Oakville yesterday and seized millions of dollars worth of property.

The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office said they confiscated more than 2,000 plants, 300 pounds of processed marijuana, $30,000 worth of gold bars, four firearms, $1 million worth of growing equipment, six high-end vehicles and other items of value.

The activities were conducted by the Thurston County Narcotics Task Force, which is comprised of members of the sheriff’s office, the Washington State Patrol and Washington State Gambling Commission, according to sheriff’s Sgt. Carla Carter.

The specific locations were not revealed.

The investigation is ongoing and further arrests are likely, according to Carter.

The suspects were arrested for unlawful manufacturing of a controlled substance and unlawful possession with intent to deliver.

Near the intersection of Harrison Avenue and West First Street, Centralia

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS –  Centralia police are investigating after a person was found dead this morning outside a building on Harrison Avenue near the Skookumchuk Bridge.

Police Sgt. Tracy Murphy said it didn’t appear suspicious, but the man’s cause of death is unknown.

He is identified as a 49-year-old with a Chehalis address, according to Murphy.