Updated at 10:22 a.m.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
A 24-year-old Chehalis area man was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center after a single-vehicle wreck on state Route 6 last night.
Troopers and aid responded about 9:20 p.m. to the scene roughly two miles east of Pe Ell.
“When our guys got there, the truck was on its top in the ditch and they had to use the Jaws of Life (to extricate him),” Lewis County Fire District 11 Chief Michael Krafczyk said.
According to the Washington State Patrol, Tyler V. Clark was headed east and moved into the oncoming lane attempting to pass another vehicle when he lost control of his Toyota Tacoma pickup. Clark’s pickup rolled and landed on the north side of the highway, according to the state patrol.
Because of the weather, medics with the fire department and AMR had to transport him to the Tumwater airport to meet a helicopter to fly him to the Seattle hospital, according to Krafczyk.
The truck was totaled. The injuries were extensive enough to warrant an airlift, Krafczyk said.
The investigating trooper blamed the wreck on speed and reports it may have involved alcohol or drugs.
Just a week ago, speed was blamed for a collision that killed two young people on Big Hanaford Road north of Centralia. Jonathan W. Parker, a 20-year-old from Centralia, lost control of his car and slid into the path of a dump truck. His 18-year-old passenger, Tiara F. Kalebaugh from Pe Ell died with him.
Washington State Patrol spokesperson Trooper Jason Hicks this past week cited a new report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration which found that excessive speed remains a leading cause of preventable traffic deaths.
According to Hicks, about one-third of such fatalities nationwide are linked to speeding. In Washington state during 2012, of the 437 people who died in traffic, 159 of the deaths included speed as a contributing factor.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
No apologies needed. My sympathy for your loss, especially at this time of year. I lost my dad and a cousin who was like the brother I never had days apart in December years ago, and the holidays have never been the same for any of us. Take care of yourself.
Sorry, for misspells!
Please everyone be so very careful out there~Do not drive under the influence , make sure your “designated driver” or the person driving is sober~If ib Doubt “GET OUT” My Precious Son & his Precious Beautiful Girlfriend wrre killed on December 31, 2011 due to driver driving drunk~speed~rage!! The driver died as well! Due to this horrible tragedy~ i have learned things i probably would have not known i such as: It is sometimes difficult to tell if a chronic alcoholic is drunk~for they are able to hide it~esp. If you do not know them~in my Son’s case he had just met the drivethe night before the crash:(( I share this so that Everyobe is Very Vigilant on the roads this Hokiday Season & Every Day!! Take Care♡♡