Updated at 2:53 p.m.
TWO INJURED WHEN MOTORCYCLE WRECKS ON I-5
• Two men were hospitalized after they were ejected from a motorcycle southbound on Interstate 5 near Vader yesterday.The Washington State Patrol reports they were traveling at a high rate of speed when the driver attempted to pass another vehicle and lost control. The 1994 Harley Davidson slid across the lanes and came to rest on the right shoulder, according to the state patrol. They both were wearing helmets, the investigating trooper reports. It happened about 1:30 p.m. near milepost 57. The passenger, Woody D. Pittman, 33, from Olympia, was airlifted to Southwest Washington Medical Center in Vancouver, according to the trooper. The driver, Thomas C. Gibbs, 58, from Rainier, was reportedly transported to Providence Centralia Hospital. Gibbs was to be cited for negligent driving and other offenses, according to the trooper.
ATTEMPTED AUTO THEFT CENTRALIA
• Centralia police responded just after 9 p.m. on Saturday to the 700 block of Harrison Avenue after an individual came out to her vehicle to find its door open and a “shaved” key stuck in the door lock, according to the Centralia Police Department.
MORTON BREAK-IN
• Morton police are still investigating a burglary discovered on Wednesday at a home on the 100 block of Third Street. The homeowner returned after being away for a few weeks to find someone had gotten inside and some items were missing, according to the Morton Police Department. It’s not yet known exactly what was stolen, according to police.
SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES
• Officers were called to the area of Division Avenue and Seventh Street in Morton at 10 p.m. on Friday after a suspicious vehicle was seen driving slowly around the neighborhood. Officers made contact with the driver who stated she was looking for her friend’s house, according to the Morton Police Department.
SHERIFF: USE THE OFFICIAL DETOUR PLEASE
• Newly sworn in Lewis County Sheriff Rob Snaza wants drivers to use the official detour route around the temporarily closed bridge on state Route 508 at the east end of Onalaska. The South Fork Newaukum Bridge near Magnus Road was shut down a week ago Sunday and residents in the areas of Jorgenson Road, Burnt Ridge Road and Johnson Road have seen an increase in traffic in their neighborhoods due to drivers not using marked and recommended Washington State Department of Transportation detour routes, according to the sheriff’s office. Deputies are increasing their traffic enforcement in those areas, and citizens are advised to follow speed limits and all traffic laws, because safety is important to Snaza, according to a news release. Snaza says drivers should plan ahead and give themselves time to use the official detour, however. The 1930-built bridge carried about 1,400 vehicles each day, according to DOT. Because overweight vehicles continued to cross the aging span, DOT decided to install a temporary bridge until they can begin building a new bridge late next year, a bridge expected to be completed in 2018. The temporary bridge is expected to be ready for traffic on Thursday, according to DOT. Until then, the official detour route for eastbound drivers is to take Leonard Road to U.S. Highway 12. Westbound drivers should take Cinebar Road to Silver Creek Road (state Route 122) to U.S. Highway 12. Once opened, weight restrictions will be lifted and traffic will alternate directions across the single-lane temporary Bailey Bridge. According to DOT: Stop signs at both ends of the bridge will be in place along with directions for drivers to allow on-coming traffic to clear before proceeding across, and it will be reopen to all legal loads, with a reduced speed limit of 25 mph across the nine-foot wide lane. For the most current information, see DOT’s blog.
AND MORE
• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, shoplifting, hit and run, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license … and more.
The temporary bridge getting installed about five miles east of Onalaska. / Courtesy photo by Washington State Department of Transportation
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
It was an observation based on the first sentence of the story. I do hope they are all right- and”female” is not a “species”.
Does it really matter if two “guys” were on a Harley? What if one of the persons whose name was listed was a girl. Perhaps someone named their child “Woody” or “Thomas” and they were in fact of the female species? What does it matter? I just hope that they are both all right and that the person that was negligent has been cited. Not really sure what the comments to this article has to do with with: ” 2 guys on one Harley?” That just doesn’t sound right.–Guess it is just an opinion or an observation. ???? Help me out here as I don’t get it.
2 guys on one Harley? That just doesn’t sound right.