Updated at 5:51 p.m.
CAR RUNS OFF INTERSTATE 5 UP HILL, AND BACK DOWN
• One person had rib pain after a two-vehicle accident this morning on Interstate 5 in Chehalis in which a car swerved off the road, up an embankment and into a fence before rolling back down the hill and coming to rest on its wheels on the shoulder. Troopers called just before 8 a.m. to the northbound lanes near West Street reported that Merilee S. Hill, 59, of Chehalis was taken to Providence Centralia Hospital. Traffic had slowed and Hill tried to slow down too but struck the back end of another vehicle before her Acura RSX traveled up the hillside, according to the Washington State Patrol. The 48-year-old driver of the other vehicle, Diana L. Jennings of Chehalis, was described by the trooper as uninjured. Her 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe was drivable after getting struck, according to the state patrol. Hill was cited for speed too fast for conditions, according to the trooper.
SALKUM-AREA WRECK
• A 48-year-old driver from Oregon as hospitalized after a roll-over wreck on U.S. Highway 12 east of Salkum yesterday. A trooper called to the scene at 1:30 p.m. reported the eastbound Ford Focus left the roadway to the right and struck an embankment before rolling onto its top. It happened near Fischer Road, according to the Washington State Patrol. Kelly L. Jaffe, of Central Point, Ore. was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital with neck and back pain, according to Lewis County Fire District 8. Passersby had removed her from the car and she seemed disoriented, Fire Chief Duran McDaniel said. The collision is under investigation.
TRUCK VERSUS TREE CENTRALIA
• A driver escaped serious injury when his pickup truck veered into a tree at Van Wormer Street and Reynolds Avenue in Centralia yesterday afternoon. Responders called about 4:19 p.m. said there was considerable damage to the truck but the male driver declined to be taken to the hospital.
JEEP VERSUS TREE ONALASKA
• A pair of Onalaskans were taken to Providence Centralia Hospital yesterday after a Jeep ran off Middle Fork Road into a ditch and then a tree. A deputy arriving to the scene about 1:20 p.m. was told by the 67-year-old driver he heard a snap and then lost his steering, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The vehicle had only lap belts so the driver and his 59-year-old female passenger “went forward into the windshield pretty good” but seemed to have escaped serious injuries, according to responders.
DOG SNATCHED FROM CENTRALIA YARD
• Police were called just before 6:30 p.m. yesterday when someone stole a dachshund from in front of a house on the 1100 block of F Street in Centralia. The dog thief was driving a red Isuzu Rodeo, according to the Centralia Police Department.
JEWELRY THEFT
• A deputy was called yesterday to the 100 block of Kauer Road in Packwood about a burglary involving almost $12,000 worth of jewelry. Sometime between Thursday and Saturday someone stole several items from a couple in their 80s, including a ruby ring, a pearl necklace with matching earrings, a 14 karat gold wedding band and a women’s fake Rolex watch, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.
TWO FLEE WITH STOLEN GROCERIES
• Chehalis police were called to the 1100 block of South Market Boulevard about 3 p.m. yesterday when someone left Safeway with a cart full of groceries they had not paid for. An employee took down the license plate information from the van and it was later stopped in Cowlitz County, according to the Chehalis Police Department. One occupant fled and a 33-year-old man was taken into custody there on an unrelated matter, Officer Linda Bailey said. The loss is estimated at $400.
THEFT
• A 33-year-old Centralia man wanted for stealing electricity from an abandoned house on the 200 block of East Van Buren Street was arrested yesterday by Yard Birds shopping center in Chehalis. Eric E. Hemenway was booked into the Lewis County Jail for second-degree burglary as he allegedly broke into the house to plug in a cord which led to a garage next door, according to police. He is to be released without charges pending further investigation.
• The Morton Police Department is investigating the theft of a firearm from a residence on the 500 block of Main Avenue. A rifle was reported missing on Sept. 10.
• Morton police were called last week about yet another theft from a lumber yard at the Northwest Home Center. During their investigation, officers learned roofing materials were also stolen from Dels Farm Supply, according to police.
DRUGS
• A married father of three from Longview and 29-year-old homeless woman from Astoria were arrested in Winlock last night for possession of methamphetamine. Jonathan R. Swann, 30, was pulled over just after 11 p.m. on Northwest Fir Street after an officer conducted a background check on his license plate and discovered the vehicle had recently been sold but the title was unchanged, according to charging documents. Swann admitted he was driving on a suspended license and was arrested, charging documents state. Charging documents go on to give the following account: A police dog was summoned to sniff around leading to a search of the vehicle. A small baggie of suspected methamphetamine was found in the trunk, along with some marijuana. Swann told the officer he had a medical marijuana authorization. Inside a brown purse near where a female passenger had been sitting, suspected methamphetamine was found, as well as a small clear baggie with Batman symbols on it containing five brown round objects as yet unidentified. Lashawna L. Smith, who initially gave a different name, was then arrested for possession. A third occupant of the vehicle was not charged with any felony. The pair were booked into the Lewis County Jail and are being held on $10,000 bail.
CAR PROWL
• Police were called at 6:25 a.m. today to the 1100 block of Long Road in Centralia where a purse was stolen from a vehicle sometime overnight. The victim had left the windows down, according to the Centralia Police Department.
• Centralia police were called just after 9 p.m. to an interrupted vehicle prowl on the 1000 block of West Main Street. Officers were unable to locate a suspect as the individual had fled on foot, according to police.
• Police took a report about 4 p.m. yesterday from the 300 block of Noel Avenue in Centralia about the possible theft of medication from a vehicle.
VANDALISM
• Centralia police took a report yesterday of gang-style graffiti found on a fence at the 1300 block of Delaware Avenue.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter