State Route 508 near Hyak Road was closed much of the night while troopers investigated a collision, involving a 2002 Land Rover and a van. / Courtesy photo by Washington State Patrol.
Updated at 3:18 p.m.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
Two teenagers are dead and a third hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after a head on collision in Onalaska last night.
The wreck just before 10 p.m. occurred on state Route 508 approximately one mile west of the central Lewis County community, and involved a vehicle carrying eight teens and a second vehicle occupied by one man and a woman, according to the Washington State Patrol.
It’s unclear what caused the wreck, according to state patrol spokesperson Trooper Will Finn.
“At this time, the (man) is under arrest for DUI, but if the investigation reveals his driving is the cause of the collision, those charges could be elevated,” Finn wrote in a news release early this morning.
The highway was still shut down at 12:30 a.m. with a detour in place, while troopers investigated at the scene near Hyak Road. It wasn’t reopened until shortly before 5 a.m.
Responders found the 2002 Land Rover Discovery upside on the road and residents from a nearby home pulling people out of the vehicle, according to Lewis County Fire District 1. They had to cut off a door to extricate others, Fire Chief Andrew Martin said.
It was carrying four 13-year-old girls and four 18-year-old boys, most of whom are or have been students at Onalaska, according to authorities.
“My understanding is on Mondays and Wednesdays, a group of our volleyball kids go to Napavine for practice, and they were coming home from that,” Onalaska School District Superintendent Jeff Davis said.
According to Finn, one teenage boy was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, and two other individuals were transported to a local hospital with minor injuries.
However, Martin said the five remaining from the Land Rover were all taken by ambulance to Providence Centralia Hospital.
“They had minor to moderate injuries, but mostly as a precaution,” Martin said.
Thirty-one firefighters, EMTs and paramedics responded, with treatment and transports handled by personnel from Onalaska, Salkum, Napavine, Toledo, Fire District 6 and AMR.
It appears only two of the eight teens were wearing seat belts, according to Finn.
He called it a very tragic situation.
“A lot of them were local kids from a very small community,” Finn said. “They’re going to need a lot of support.”
The 2004 Ford Freestyle minivan also came to rest on the roadway, and its driver was taken to Providence as well, as a precaution, according to the fire chief. His female passenger was not transported by ambulance, Martin said.
Joseph W. Rogerson, 36, from Chehalis, was booked into the Lewis County Jail early this morning for driving under the influence.
The initial investigation shows Rogerson was traveling westbound and the Land Rover was headed east.
“Both vehicles were actually over the centerline when they hit, so it’s not clear,” Finn said of who caused the accident.
“It’s kind of a sticky case, that’s why it’s still under investigation,” he said.
Dead at the scene was the driver of the Land Rover, Arnold W. Mullinax, 18, of Onalaska. Davis said he used to go to Onalaska schools, but transferred to Mossyrock. He had been wearing a seatbelt, according to the state patrol.
Also deceased, is a 13-year-old girl from Onalaska, whose name has not been released.
Flown by helicopter to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, was Dakota L. Dunivin, 18, from Chehalis. A hospital spokesperson said he was listed in critical condition in the intensive care unit at 12:25 p.m. today.
Fire crews were on the scene about four hours. They were joined by a chaplain to assist with numerous people who began to arrive.
Also from the Land Rover were Chris S. Woods, 18, of Onalaska, who was wearing a seatbelt; Jonathan T. Griffis, 18, of Onalaska, who is listed as uninjured.
The other girls from the Land Rover are un-named by the state patrol, all 13 years old. One from Onalaska was injured, one from Chehalis was injured and another from Onalaska was taken to the hospital for precautionary reasons.
Davis said they opened up a room at the front of Onalaska High School from noon until 4 p.m. today, for students, parents and staff to come, meet, grieve, talk, visit or whatever the need to do.
“Our staff was hit hard with this, because they’ve had these students,” he said.
Update 3:19 p.m.: Dakota L. Dunivin died at 1:08 p.m. today, according to a spokesperson at Harborview.
The 2004 Ford Freestyle minivan. / Courtesy photo by Washington State Patrol
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State Route 508 near Hyak Road. / Courtesy photo by Damion Robbins
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
Also Bill S., if you are basing your theory as to who hit whom, you should not assume, clearly pictures of the land rover were taken after the emergency responders cut that vehicle apart to removed the entrapped occupant(s). I think you should let the facts be proven by the investigators, instead of speaking out of turn on the specific area of roadway and the types of vehicles involved. And as an FYI I live a block from where Volleyball was, I saw the Land rover pass by my house while watering my plants and I can assure you there was no party in the Land Rover, as a matter of fact the car in front of the land rover rolled thru the stop sign and sped off down the street. The land rover made a complete stop. Oh and Volleyball gets out every day at that time. So please keep your assumptions private and not add to the agony to these families.
One thing to consider, regardless of who may have been over the centerline, the simple fact is the driver of the Ford was impaired, and had he not been drinking, he might have been able to react more quickly. He has had previous convictions for DUI and still with past experience with alcohol and driving charges made the choice to drink and then get in his car to drive back to Chehalis, therefore, he should be held accountable. $5000 bail was a bit to low for three lives. Aside from that I cannot imagine what the families are going thru, I do not know anyone of the occupants in the vehicles, by condolences to the families
My heart goes out to all the families involved. I didn’t know any of these kids, it’s been over 10 years since I graduated from there (my family still lives there), but in a small community like that tragedies like this affect everyone.
@Richard
I really don’t think this is the appropriate place or time to discuss this, but since I used to live right beside the owner and I know what went on, I can enlighten you a little:
He started out brewing it in a big shop on his property. Eventually he and his wife bought a restaurant on Market in Chehalis. They eventually split, shut down the restaurant, and he decided to stop making the beer. He ended up selling most of his equipment to Dick of Dick’s Brewing fame. I still have an old shirt and pint-glass with the Onalaska Ale logo (I never actually got to try the beer because I was a child at the time).
WSP let the other driver out of jail without further charges so far. They had stated that both drivers were across the center line which I do not believe.
The reason is that the Ford Van was only side swiped without much overlap. That’s why there were no injuries in that car. It’s also possible that the Ford Van had crossed the center line and was weaving back to the correct side of the road when hit. The driver of that vehicle seems to have many driving infractions in multiple jurisdictions. I don’t know how many of those are DUI’s but possibly he has prior DUI’s.
My theory is that the Land Rover driver was distracted and hit the other car which would not have been all that bad but then he over corrected sending the Land Rover off the road and up the bank. From there the Land Rover with it’s high center of gravity rolled back on to the road and skidded for some distance on it’s top. This is all speculation on my part as I didn’t observe the scene and don’t know that particular piece of road.
I don’t know if the Land Rover is built for eight passengers but if there are 8 seat belts and they were all used there wouldn’t have been as many deaths and serious injuries. I suspect the Land Rover was overloaded with would have also made it more prone to rollover.
Although the driver was 18 and these laws probably don’t apply, there are good reasons why Washington does not allow a teen driver to have passengers under 20 years old for the first six months and no more than three under 20 for the second six months.
gramma says:
Thursday, July 16, 2015 at 12:09 am
Older boy giving his sister and friends a ride home.Trying to be a good big brother.That is why the age difference.Nothing else.I know this for a fact.
I’m sure that there was not any bad intent, but the fact remains you don’t go stacking kids like cordwood in a car.
Life is just too precious to be taken so lightly.
2 of my good friends lost their lives because of this DRUNK DRIVER! He sho sit behind bars for the rest!
Older boy giving his sister and friends a ride home.Trying to be a good big brother.That is why the age difference.Nothing else.I know this for a fact.
XDs says:
Wednesday, July 15, 2015 at 3:12 pm
Just because a driver was allegedly drinking doesn’t mean he caused the accident.
But the story says he was over the centerline. That puts some of the deaths’ responsibility squarely on him.
BobbyinLC I did not write this to offend anyone. I read the headline and the article and the word “Onalaska” gave me a sudden flashback to the early 90’s when Onalaska ale beer was the rave around here at the time, but then suddenly disappeared off the cooler shelves before I even noticed until now! I even googled it and found nothen.
Just because a driver was allegedly drinking doesn’t mean he caused the accident.
Free Air said: “If I were the driver, I’d stay in jail for as long as it takes to figure this wreck out.”
He was released from jail this morning. On $5,000 bond, I hear.
Really Richard Weed? You are using postings here to a story about a tragedy surrounding alcohol to ask about a beer you used to drink? Wrong forum.
Our love and prayers to all we didn’t know any of these children we feel for their parents may all the children who passed rest in peace
Whatever happened to that beer called Onalaska ale?; you know the one that came with a white plastic cap on the bottle. I remember years ago drinking that stuff and get puke wasted, heck I hated drinking it then but would like to give it a second chance to see if I can handle that stuff now. Anyone know?
God be with you who is in pain and may nature help with the turth if he was drunk and caused the accident may justice have its way but if he was not the cause then hope he is set with dui only not their blood my nephew is 17 and has wreaked 2 cars kids are to relaxed behind the wheel these days god
bless all hurting from this horror
if you’re not doing anything to be helpful and kind to all involved non this tragedy, then keep your ignorant and hurtful comments to yourself. Go point fingers somewhere else, like maybe up your ass. Might find a big ol stick there along with your head.
“My understanding is on Mondays and Wednesdays, a group of our volleyball kids go to Napavine for practice, and they were coming home from that,” Onalaska School District Superintendent Jeff Davis said.
I would assume THAT’S why a bunch of 13 year olds were out with 18 year olds.
If I were the driver, I’d stay in jail for as long as it takes to figure this wreck out. The family can’t take out their anger on him while he’s in jail. Outside of jail, he’s on his own.
I wonder if it happened at that rough patch west of town. Last time I rode trough there my 700 bike caught air on those bumps.
Why were 13 yr. old girls out with 18 yr old boys??
I do send thoughts and prayers to the families, it’s a parents worst nightmare.
Word on the street is there was a very strong odor of intoxicants coming from the land rover. Why were four underage girls with four adults?
None of em belted in? Hmmmm…..
10pm and out with older guys, one can only guess.
So sorry for their loss. Now is not the time to point fingers. The law will take care if that. Just give love and prayers to all that are grieving.
On the other hand, the man that they booked into the Lewis County jail on July 14 at 2:24 AM for DUI has a lengthy history with district and municipal courts in several jurisdictions. Looks like mostly traffic.
It looks like the Land Rover side swiped the minivan at a high rate of speed, left the road, and rolled. Hwy 508 has no shoulders and steep ditches in that area.
Also looks like there was no seat belt usage which probably could have prevented the deaths and serious injuries even in such a violent accident.
My guess is that it was party time in the Land Rover, the driver was distracted, and side swiped poor old Joe Blow on his way home from the tavern.
My prayers to the families of those lost and those fighting for life. I hope the community pitches in and assists with funding funeral arrangements and a celebration of the lives that they all shared! God be with you all.
Eight teens in one car at 10PM. I wouldn’t be to quick to blame the other driver although he was under the influence.
You might be able to drive home safely after a few drinks but if someone hits you, even though it may not be your fault, you are going to be in deep doodoo – especially if people are injured or killed.
I don’t know how my friends and I survived our teenage years. I remember many times when a bunch of us were all piled into some friend’s family station wagon driving like a bat out of hell and everyone drinking beer. Some kids in every school in those years didn’t make it.
Lets not convict the adult driver before the facts are released. It has been stated by the LEO’s that they did not know who was the cause of the accident.
All because some idiot had to drink and drive, Families and friends are grieving because of the drinkers arrogance.
gofundme donation account http://www.gofundme.com/zbupvc
From our family and friends we send our prayers to the families and friends and to those that courageously responded to offer their expertise of help and to all those involved in this horrible accident …
There is no bigger tragedy than losing your child my heart goes out to the mother’s and father’s of these little angels and also to their families and friends.
The Government wants to scare you with ISIS terror threats, driving is more dangerous than terrorists. What gets me the most is that alcohol is being advertised along our state highways. So if your an alcoholic you get the urge to drink while driving. If a flag can be removed so should alcohol signs from the road. Everyone always says prayers, but did you really pray?
maybe now the state will see fit to fix the damn road in that area, instead of just patching it along
Our thoughts and prayers are with the friends and families of all involved. Drinking and driving, such an avoidable tragedy.
Why do people insist on drinking and driving. Seriously how many people have to die before people get it. I understand that it may not be the cause but still. May God jeal the families involved broken hearts, and heal the bodies of the hurt.
That was my nephew that was taken to seattle please pray he makes it thank you
My heart goes out to the families that have lost a loved one. Sending prayers to all and healing prayers to the boy who was airlifted to Harborview.
R.I.P. to those that lost their lives and those that have to live with seeing their friends be taken from them.
Nobody deserves that and especially when it is preventable.
Prayers go out to the families