By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – A Randle woman’s passenger car was more or less T-boned by a semi truck when she pulled out of Morton onto U.S. Highway 12 today.
Troopers called just before 3:30 p.m. found Karla Johnson, 50, from Randle, had stopped at the intersection on state Route 7, and was attempting to head east but for whatever reason pulled in front of a westbound Freightliner tractor-trailer.
She was lucky, according to Trooper Justin Schaffer.
“The truck ran over the front side of the car, instead of into the passenger (compartment),” Schaffer said. “She had just a minor knee injury.”
Her 2002 Oldsmobile Alero was totaled, according to the Washington State Patrol. The semi had some front end damage and snapped an oil line, Schaffer said.
Both were towed from the scene.
The truck driver, Ciaran Cobb, 25, from Yakima, was unhurt, according to the state patrol.
Johnson was transported to Morton General Hospital. She was cited for failure to yield, Schaffer said.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
I’m not sure if these incidents happen often enough to justify the expense of installing a traffic signal. I can’t remember the last time I’ve heard of an accident there. Eastbound 12 has a left turn lane for 7 and there is a merge lane from 7 to eastbound and westbound 12. If everyone is paying attention and obeying the speed limits, there shouldn’t be a problem. There’s a lot of other sketchy intersections on 12 though. I think this was just a freak accident and I’m glad she will be ok.
If you have ever been to the intersection of state hwy 7 and US 12 at Morton you will know that there is a stop sign on hwy 7 but none in either direction of hwy 12.
Over 50% of the traffic is turning into hwy 7 for Morton from either direction.
If you are at the stop sign on hwy 7, you must wait for all traffic except for westbound traffic in the right turn lane with a right turn signal that they are going to turn into Morton.
It is very easy to get confused and I am sure that this person pulled out in front of the truck that was continuing west, and not turning into Morton in the inbound lane.
It’s probably a good place for the state to start thinking about installing traffic lights.