By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – An autopsy on the 94-year-old man hit by a car in Chehalis earlier this week showed he died from probable cardiac arrhythmia due to heart disease and COPD, but the trauma and shock from the accident sped up his death, according to the Lewis County coroner.
George Benton
George Benton, a retired Chehalis firefighter, was in a crosswalk on South Market Boulevard riding his power wheelchair when he was struck by a 1990s Buick passenger car on Monday evening, according to police.
Chehalis police reopened the accident investigation following Wednesday’s death.
Benton was taken to Providence Centralia Hospital with an injury to one side of his chest, a broken ankle and a cut to his ear. Police said the injuries seemed minor at the time. He didn’t even want to go to the hospital, but was talked into it, according to Chehalis Deputy Police Chief Randy Kaut.
He was transported later that night to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle to get his ear repaired and back home by Tuesday night. He died Wednesday morning at the adult family home where he lived.
Benton was a widower who resided on Southwest 12th Street but still owned his house on Southeast Washington Avenue where he spent time “puttering” in his shop or yard, according to his caregiver Leah Jensen. Each are about a block from where he was hit.
Lewis County Coroner Warren McLeod said he is listing the manner of death as accidental.
Specifically, McLeod said the findings were probable arrhythmia due to arteriosclerotic and hypertensive cardiovascular disease and COPD, with other significant conditions being blunt force trauma to one ear, the side of his chest and his right leg.
•••
For background, read “Elderly Chehalis man struck in crosswalk dies” from Thursday December 6, 2012, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
MalcolmXXX says Driving around like what? As a news reporter I have a right to ask questions. Have you even seen me use marijuana. In fact you know nothing of my personal life. Have I said I used, no. Did I ask questions yes. Should I take a Piss test for you MalcomXXX. Get the facts before you make a statement.
Thank You
Again the conversation has turned into name-calling and off topic posts.
As to the person who has the words “freedom” and “deserve” confused.
Allow me to rephrase my earlier statement.
So, if a person is not wearing a full helmet and knee, shoulder, elbow pads and not wearing a reflective vest, and not carrying flags and a flashing light, they have the FREEDOM to get hit by a car and die.
That still makes no sense.
It seems the victim is just a forgotten nobody and the person who hit a disabled elderly retired firefighter is now the “victim”.
I’m even more confident now than I was before when I inferred that the perp probably works for the county or city.
And as always, DCE is right on the money when he says, “she could have been high on prescription pills”.
Trying to paint DCE as guilty as killing someone is absurd and does nothing but inflame emotions and encourage name-calling.
DCE hasn’t run anybody down. His point was that if he were to run over an elderly man in a wheelchair it is 100% guaranteed that he would given every possible test to determine intoxication.
The fact that this man died and the woman who killed his was never given a simple sobriety test is travesty of justice that only a lawyer for the Americans with Disability Act could put into proper perspective.
That being said, would it be too much to ask that people stop trying to make the driver out to be the victim? She is still living and the man she killed is not. He was the real victim, not the driver.
Thank you MalcolmXXX
The Dirtiest Cop Enforcer says:
Sunday, December 9, 2012 at 2:03 pm
I went to the Lewis county sheriff’s office and I could not get a straight answer, I wanted to know if I could drive with my Marijuana Ounce on the Dash board?
Hey, doesn’t that stuff stay in your system 30 days?? We all have kids and your driving around like that??
Where is the Drug Test that should of been conducted during the investigation? Prescription Pills Kill by the Thousands each and every year. High Blood pressure medicine can cause problems while operating machinary. Sleeping Medicine can cause this also… Where are the Drug Tests…. I know if this happened to me I would be tested a probed to the Maximun. Hell I even had my car towed from private property by the PD… We want Justice and a Hair Foilicle test to prove if this person could of been on drugs. But it’s to late law enforcement let us down again..
This is not a Witch Hunt, we want a proper investigation and we have been failed and now a man is dead, and the operator of the vehicle could of ben on Drugs…
Is Old Long Johnson a name for a local stunt man? Big jump from “free to do as one pleases” to “deserved”.
“free to suffer the consequences of being out without safety gear.”
So if a pedestrian goes out at night without a helmet, a bright flashing neon light, a reflective vest, and flags they deserve to get hit by a car at least and to die at worst.
Nice.
I too hope you are never on a jury.
No, OLJ, the accident wasn’t anyone’s “fault.” That’s why it was an ACCIDENT: George didn’t set out to get himself killed, and the lady driving the car that struck him didn’t set out to cause his death. It just happened. Sometimes things occur where there’s no blame to be assigned.
OLJ, I will pray that you are NEVER on my jury, should I need one for court. Really, your logic!!
In this “free country” – yes the man was free to be out at night, and was free to suffer the consequences of being out without safety gear. It was his right to be out whenever he wanted to. It was his stubborness or whatever to put other drivers in harm’s way. “You people in Lewis County sure have a twisted sense of responsibility.” Kinda like calling the pot black, eh kettle?
Sad for all involved.
I have known George for 5 years…. he was blessing to Lewis county and to everyone that knew him… He had a great life and has seen and done alot of things in his lifetime… the shitty part is how he went… obviously it was a terrible accident… we can all say different things about hat happen… lets all just move on and just remember how he was…. Gods blessing from heaven and now he’s with his beautiful wife in heaven… so Lewis county let it go… R.I.P Buddy..
So basically you’re saying it was the man’s fault.
That is so sad.
Just because the man was out at night refusing to wear a reflective vest (most people don’t wear one anyway), or carrying crossing flags he deserved to die?
If that’s the logic, then it would be just as logical or illogical to ask, “Why didn’t the woman just stay home herself?”
Are you saying that the woman who killed the poor man had more right to be out on the street at night?
Isn’t this a free country?
The fact somebody else nearly hit that poor man just proves that Lewis County will give a license to anybody who is blind or incompetent.
Drivers should have enough common sense to drive with caution ESPECIALLY in inclement weather.
The weather didn’t kill the poor man, a careless woman did.
Ahhh, frontier justice. Let’s have a hanging so we can all break out the picnic baskets.
I knew George (he lived in the same house as a relative), and he was a good man. He was also a very stubborn man: Wouldn’t wear a safety vest that drivers could see, wouldn’t use the flags provided at sidewalks, wouldn’t stop climbing trees at his house (at age 94!) to trim their limbs. He was his own man and did things his own way, even if it put him at risk (as happened last week).
From what I’ve been told by someone I consider reliable, another vehicle narrowly missed hitting him in the same crosswalk and the lady who DID hit him couldn’t see him until it was too late to react.
But, hey, who needs an investigation or a trial to pass judgment on what was an accidental tragedy? I’d suggest reading Luke 6:37 or Matthew 7:2 from the Bible, but what good does that do with people who act as judge and jury without benefit of fact?
I will certainly not pray for a family because one of their members killed a man.
I will however pray for that man and HIS family and hope that they can survive such a tragedy.
EVERYONE SHUT THE “F”UP AND KEEP THE FAMILIES OF BOTH IN OUR PRAYERS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON..
“Accidents happen, you’re here aren’t you?”
Yeah, but that doesn’t give my parents an excuse to avoid responsibilty for their actions.
Or are you not aware that parent need to take care of their children. Or did you expect that my parent could just create me as some kind of horrible accident and just avoid any kind of responsibility?
You people in Lewis County sure have a twisted sense of responsibility.
Dirty Cop Enforcer and Old Longjohn man, have you never heard the wise saying “Better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and prove it”. You have no idea at all what you are talking about with this case. Your ingorance is astounding. Its almost as if you have never actually driven after dark in Western Washington before. What happened to this driver could have happened to any one of us, the poor man should not have crossed the road when he did. When I cross the road in the dark I am fully aware of the fact that cars most likely cannot see me and I take special care to leave myself time before the next vehicle. You are destroying a kind loving person with your garbage. As for your stupidity regarding the police dept. it almost isn’t worth comment. The reason that the police dept. picks on poor little drug addicts is because they preditorize our community and they destroy peoples lives every day, including children’s. If you had even a small clue what happens to innocent children in our community every day at the hands of the poor little drug addicts you would be ashamed of your comments. The police department is the enemy of evil, and truly there is evil walking the streets of Chehalis every day. If you count yourself as an enemy of the department, the person who has the problem is you. As to the incompetence in this case, the only thing I hope is that the pd will have enough sack to stand by the original decision and not bow to public pressure from people who weren’t there and have no clue what happened. This was a tragic accident resulting from time of day, weather and poor visability not from negligence on the part of the driver.
i’m tired of the mean-spirited tone and bickering … give it a rest.
OldLongJohnson says:
Monday, December 10, 2012 at 9:09 am
“The “perp” is my sister and the nicest most careful driver on the planet. OldLong Johnson, you are a bitter, self-righteous “flamer” and don’t know the facts. Sad that you pick this tragedy to spew your garbage.”
You sister might be a “saint” in your eyes, but she killed a human being.
If thinking it’s wrong to run down disabled elderly people in the street with a car is wrong and ‘bitter’, then that’s good.
HELLO u schmuck!!! Accidents happen to old and young. THis poor girl wasn’t our looking for a senoir citizen to mow down with her car. Use your head. Accidents happen, you’re here aren’t you?
The investigation was performed at the scene at the time the gentleman was injured. They made their assessment based on eye-witness accounts and the available facts presented to them. They were there, you weren’t. When he passed away, they reopened the investigation. They did not drop the ball.You are turning a tragic accident into a witch hunt. It is possible nobody is to blame. But if you hate, that concept is hard to comprehend.
Mike Dunbar, the cops dropped the ball here. No investigation until after the fact.. Your Tax Dollars at work. Now go drink your fluoride from the citys medicated water supply and enjoy cancer.
Amazing. The lady doesn’t drink, doesn’t text, won’t even answer the phone while driving. But everyone is ready to crucify her because you want somebody to pay for this “crime”.And you are convinced of some sort of conspiracy with the Good old boy network? Really?? Its like your going after Aunt Bee for Christ sake. Shameless,clueless morons. Go get another can of pork soda, your missing your Honey BooBoo episode.
The “perp” is my sister and the nicest most careful driver on the planet. OldLong Johnson, you are a bitter, self-righteous “flamer” and don’t know the facts. Sad that you pick this tragedy to spew your garbage.”
Oh look another perfect Pill Popper in Centralia, that got let off the hook for flashing the Good Ole Boy Badge..
“The “perp” is my sister and the nicest most careful driver on the planet. OldLong Johnson, you are a bitter, self-righteous “flamer” and don’t know the facts. Sad that you pick this tragedy to spew your garbage.”
You sister might be a “saint” in your eyes, but she killed a human being.
If thinking it’s wrong to run down disabled elderly people in the street with a car is wrong and ‘bitter’, then that’s good.
Why should I too believe your sister is some kind of saint? She seems to me like a horrible driver if not completely blind or incompetent. People like her should not be allowed behind a wheel. Wanna know why? Because she killed a man.
You sitting here trying to say that the elderly disabled man is at fault when he’s the one who got killed is pathetic.
Your sister is not some kind of benevolent saint, if she was, she would feeding the homeless. But, instead she’s out running down disabled old men in wheelchairs because she can’t be bothered with paying attention and keeping her eyes in front of her!
PS…in response to a CPB, DCE would be DQ as an RSO…LMFAO!
Another example of lewis county geniuses…wow! This blog has gone downhill fast! Oh well, good entertainment though. Think I’ll cancel my cable!
The “perp” is my sister and the nicest most careful driver on the planet. OldLong Johnson, you are a bitter, self-righteous “flamer” and don’t know the facts. Sad that you pick this tragedy to spew your garbage.
I am no fan of any Lewis County “official” but the comments posted here seem a bit extreme, and speculative of what may, or may not have happened, or who was involved. Regardless of all that, this man was hit by a frikin car, and today he is no longer alive. His existing medical conditions should not be used as a cause of death, which from the little information available, would be blunt force trauma by a moving vehicle. The driver needs to be held accountable, period, accident or otherwise~
I would like to say that this is proof that people are ‘stereo-typed’ for who they are and how they look. I have went out of my way to record statements about the police and how they treat the citizens of this county. I myself have been putting together real life complaints from the citizens of Lewis County that have came forward and told me about mis-treatment from local police. Americas Law Enforcement Police Control Grid “LEPCG” is happening throughout the United States. The Police are only enforcing the law on a certain part of the population and allowing others to get a free pass. Police mainly Target the Poor or defenseless Drug Addicts. The words protect and serve have been thrown out the window by Americas armed tax collectors. T Accident investigations are a process that has been redefined by the police many times, yet the protectors of the peace let down the Family of the “Deceased” and are negligent for their failure to protect and serve. Example, when I go to Wal-mart I see many older 50 year olds that are getting “Sleeping Medicine”, like Amtriptayline,. Even blood pressure medicine can cause loss of balance or difficulty driving. The time has come in this “Modern Society” to have a Citizen Police Board “CPB” that has the last say over the police departments actions. After all the Citizens of this county pay for these police services and if we cannot get a proper answer or a real investigation, then we as a Community need to have a Town Hall Meeting to start telling the police around here “what we need from them”. Not what they want to do to Us. The Police need to start answering to the public, we pay them and they have taken advantage of our Tax Dollars and are abusing their positions… DCE love me or hate me…… 🙂 But come on, these stories are really starting to be the norm around here.
Oh Snap someone else has made the claim of a Good Ole Boy Net Work.. and it’s not me.. Damm Conspiracy to commit Nepotism, I’m thinking.. But don’t take my word for it, other posters need to step up and tell their good ole boy stories, let’s run em out of town..
Thank God the case is reopened!!!
It’s just too bad they didn’t do the proper investigation in the first place.
This should be a lesson to the so-called Chehalis police: being hit by an automobile should not be taken lightly and should be investigated with due diligence.
For some reason, something tells me the perpetrator is somehow ‘connected’ to the good-ol-boy network.
How likely would it be that a person who works at wal-mart or who is on SSI would be allowed to leave the scene of a pedestrian/vehicle accident without a sobriety test OR citation???
May this poor poor man’s soul rest in eternal peace and may the outstanding incompetence on the part of the Chehalis PD be damned.
Such a sad tragedy.