A father and son from Vancouver died at the scene this morning when they collided with a big rig. / Courtesy photo by Washington State Patrol.
Updated at 10:22 a.m. and 2:58 p.m.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – A pickup truck that slammed into the rear of a semi truck on Interstate 5 this morning near the Toledo-Winlock state Route 505 interchange left two people dead.
The northbound lanes of the freeway remain closed after the approximately 8 a.m. wreck.
Traffic was being detoured around the closure, according to the state Department of Transportation.
Lewis County Fire District 15 was called just after 8 a.m. to the collision near milepost 63.
A helicopter landed on the freeway to transport one of the two male victims but he became deceased, Assistant Fire Chief Kevin Anderson said.
Anderson called it a very violent collision into the back of the big rig.
The Washington State Patrol identified the pair as a father and his teenage son from Vancouver, Wash.
Antoliy P. Kovalchuk, 43, and 15-year-old Mark Kovalchuk were at the end of of an approximately four-mile backup from an earlier wreck farther north when their Toyota T-100 pickup struck the rear of a Kenworth semi with a flatbed trailer, according to Trooper Ryan Tanner.
Neither were wearing a seat belt, according to Tanner.
The blockage was expected to continue until as late as 11:30 a.m., according to the state Department of Transportation.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
i know this people they go to my church are the church knows that he and his son died i’m so sorry but he is in a better place with his son in heaven and with God
I don’t even know how to put in words how sorry I am for all of you who have lost Mr. Kovalchuk and his son out of your lives. I did not know either of these men, but I was a witness to the bang and destruction that ended their lives as we were just a couple cars in front of them on the I5 corridor. In refelection I ponder on how easily that could have been me and my 13 year old daughter as I was taking her to school and it breaks my heart for all you who are left behind to grieve and mourn thinking about all that you might have lost in both these men. We will remember them tonight and as we pray and we will be asking God to surround you all with his Love, mercy and comfort. God Bless you all, The Pruetts
Велика трагедія для всіх хто знав Толіка і Марка не віриться що таке сталося жінці Любі і дітям Толіка які залишилися без батька і брата Марка велике співчуття Закликаемо всіх зібрати кошти для сім’ї Ковальчук
“Great tragedy for all who knew Tolik and Mark can not believe what happened dear wife and children Tolik left without father and brother, Mark of great compassion call for all to raise funds for family Kovalchuk”
Велика трагедія для всіх хто знав Толіка і Марка не віриться що таке сталося жінці Любі і дітям Толіка які залишилися без батька і брата Марка велике співчуття Закликаемо всіх зібрати кошти для сім’ї Ковальчук
that was my friend i just heard he was at someones house like 3 days ago now he is died!!we will miss them