Updated at 7:28 p.m.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
A 39-year-old woman and a 13-year-old boy died yesterday when the car they were traveling in was rear-ended and shoved into the opposite lane of U.S. Highway 12 in East Lewis County.
The 2000 Dodge Stratus was hit by an oncoming pickup truck pulling a camp trailer.
It happened about 9:40 a.m. at the entrance to Cascade Peaks Campground about seven miles east of Randle, according to the Washington State Patrol.
The man who was driving the car, Jeremy W. Denniston, 37, from Randle, was taken to Tacoma General Hospital and remained in critical condition this evening.
The collision is blamed on inattention by the 79-year-old driver of the semi truck, from Nevada – behind the wheel of a 2014 Kenworth with two unloaded trailers, according to the state patrol.
State Patrol Sgt. Mike Cournyer indicates the investigation would continue today, with the names of the victims to be released when their identities are confirmed.
The wreck shut down the highway in both directions until about 4:30 p.m.
According to troopers, the eastbound car was stopped to make a left turn into the campground. The semi truck behind it failed to slow and struck the rear of the car, forcing it into the westbound lane, where it was hit by the 2011 Ford F350 pickup pulling a trailer, according to the state patrol.
The pickup’s passenger, Cheryl L. Kinder, 69, from Astoria, was transported to Morton General Hospital with minor injuries, according to Sgt. Cournyer. The driver, Lewis H. Kinder, 68, also of Astoria, was reportedly unhurt.
The other passengers of the car, Kerri M. Denniston, 39, and the teenager, are also from Randle, according to the state patrol.
The semi driver, Arthur H. Harrison, 79, of Laughlin, Nevada, was also reportedly uninjured. Potential charges are pending, the investigating trooper reports.
All the vehicles were described as totaled.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
The 79 year old driver, may have been a old guy he was in good shape, good driver with a good record….Never would hurt anyone…for what ever reason this happened I don’t know
He was watching the road, the stopping of a car, the tail lights…what ever happened, it was a accident. Love ones were lost, hearts broken a man just doing his job devastated. I pray for the family’s involved for there loss…for the truck driver…Some of you out there are so cruel it’s not bad enough that this happened….
I was there. Helped with CPR as much as I could. Experience told me she was dead. CPR should not have been started, but once you do you cannot stop until the rescuer can’t because of fatigue or an MD says stop. My opinion about this tragic accident and its aftermath is: Hwy 12 has an obvious history of bad accidents; local fire departments arrived to late and were not amply supplied; EMTs arrived too late. Hwy 12…Washington State Hwy people, who ever you are, fix it. Too many loggers, too many narrow curves, no turn outs for people turning left. Such a horrific tragedy on an absolutely beautiful highway. Not a bad place to die I guess.
What about the fact it took over 30 min for the fire department to get their. The boy was still alive for at least 20 minutes after the accident. I was there I helped with CPR on the mother who died at impact. I saw everyone pull together to try to help them. I saw the look in the truck drivers eyes as he stood over each and everyone in the car. He kept moving back and forth between the car and the ground where she was thrown from the car because she had no seatbelt on. This is all sad. I hope and pray that everyone will help everyone get over this and come together does it really matter who is to blame. It just sucks they it happened.
Some Dude… So since you seem to be attempting to saintify this total stranger to yourself, Im here to tell you, you’re talking out your ass. You automatically assume the truck driver is a hard working old man. Hmmm… Maybe you DO know him, maybe you’re related. There’s got to be SOME reason you want to defend him and explain that he’s “hard working” and therefore excusing his OBVIOUSLY negligent behavior. You don’t know shit. So how bout you just shut up. Nobody needs your presumptuous opinions when others CLEARLY know more facts about the case than you and your big mouth do. Shut the hell up and go away.
Enough kerri was an amazing person and her life was cut short and her husband is still fighting for his. So people find something else to bitch about and let my friends get over this in peace. And as far as the truck driver he will have to deal with this the rest of his life the memories of this wreck will be with him forever.
Really, Some Dude? I hope this never happens to someone you care about, such as wife, mom, daughter. etc. If it did, would you accept that it was “just an accident”?
Does anyone know how the survivor is doing? Please pray for all involved, as it will be permantly embedded in their mind, even those who were just witnesses to the accident.
Its nice to see the same dot at the weight station doing there job it needs to be more the one or two day then shut the station down till someone else dies
Its sad thay will both be missed. Thay were family and to assume you know what’s going on and try to play the blame game you should keep the our comments to your self. Based on the comment the driver made and the crash site the truth will be known soon.
There are only a few of us close friends and family that know the facts of this accident. Most of you people on here negatively remarking on this accident should shut your mouth. These people were my friends and I know the true report from the families. Most of you have it wrong. The truck driver is at fault bottom line.
To ‘some dude’
The victims of this fatal crash that caused a wife and and a young child to loose their lives were friends of my son. To state so imptuiosly that they were just in the wrong place and the elderly semi driver was just doing his job, is moronic. So fuck you and everyone that you love. (I’m sure that’s a short list) Have a shitty life, mouth breathing moron.
Right now the most important thing is for prayers for the people involved and the families of those involved. Placing blame, calling names and criticizing people is never productive to any one, even the one doing the shit talking. If some one should be to blame maybe the people shot look at DOT because really how long has this R.V. Park been there with trucks hauling trailers turning off and on to this straight stretch of highway, how many other accidents have happed here regardless of hoe serious the accident and last but not least how many requests for a freakin turn lane is it going to take to get one or how many people have to loose their loved ones before DOT does something about it? Hmmmmmm there is a little something to chew on. I am also sire there is nothing any of you inconsiderate ass’s was could say that could damage that old truck driver that he has not already said himself. Imagine how he must feel. I would think he would be willing to trade places at any moment with any one of the lives lost.
So sorry to read about this tragic accident. My husband was killed in accident by a driver who fell asleep at the wheel of his vehicle. On highway 12. A very dangerous hi way. I lived in east Lewis county for twenty years & was always afraid of the big rigs, logging trucks while trying to make a turn off of the highway. I think the log truck drivers were better at watching out for other vehicles.
I was staying at the camp grounds and heard this accident and was about 10th to run up to the scene and saw the after effects of this horrible crash. I still have the images when I close my eyes .. My heart breaks for all that were involved . Please everyone for the respect of all no fighting over this..
Also, my husband and I drive Hwy 12 all the time. Virtually every trip, a logging or other truck rides our bumper although we’re going the speed limit + maybe 2-3 mph to try to satisfy them while not getting a speed ticket. If that’s what happened, I don’t feel at all sorry for the offender.
Some Dude has a similar attitude to the “Boys will be boys” stance that coddled drunk drivers from 1900 through the 1970s. Whole families were wiped out and the manslaughterers got away scot free on the grounds they “didn’t mean to do it.” Of course we pity the truck driver. However, his victims are still dead. Perhaps officials will discover the left-turner gave insufficient notice, partially excusing the trucker, one can hope so. But if you want to throw around the “liberal” tag, throw it at the bleeding-hearts so eager to excuse inattentive driving and dangerous trucking policies.
@no mistake
You think the driver of the truck deliberately killed a mother and her boy? Wake up. Accidents happen. Charging him will not bring them back. You sound like a liberal cheerleader who has gotten a check for brake checking someone in the past. Quit trying profile someone based on their comments. Its down right ignorant. 😉 As for the iq thing. You hope somebody is charged? Why? Does it make you feel safer? Or does it go along with liberal gang mentality? There’s no place in society for people like you. Hope your Obama phone keeps you warm at night. Truckers wear boots. You troll. As for the slam dunk. I’m sure the insurance companies have lawyers that will have these hillbilly prosecutors shaking in their blown out triple e loafers and spilting their tight 80s suit pants when they bend over to pick up what’s left of their case. A jury would never convict this guy. He’s not a criminal just a hard working old man. People like him keep the American Dream alive. My suggestion to you if your worried about loss of life make your daughter is using birth control. She might construe your liberal attitude as pro-choice. Better yet forget it we don’t need another loser on Food stamps and TANIF.
Kerri had been a nurse at Randle clinic for a couple years… The boy was Not her son it was a friend’s boy that had recently moved in with . The parents and the boy had been in Randle for about a week. Her husband Jeremy is in ICU still. So instead of the negative comments and people assuming they know. Think about the family and friends before posting !!!
Rather passing blame as keyboard lawyers and cops why don’t you let the professionals do their jobs, and use your time and energy praying for all those effected by this tragedy. My prayers for Jeremy, Kerri, and the young boy, and their families. Along with all others involved.
@Samantha I do agree with you on the double trailer corn trucks traveling Highway 12 this time of year. I have often observed them speeding. They seem to be on commission for how much corn they can haul. I am suspicious of the number of hours that the drivers are behind the wheel without sleep. I do hope that the WSP investigates that. My guess is that speeding was also a cause but there is probably no way of proving that.
@BraBustin Not Sleeping Giant formerly Bill S. Felt a little more crazy than usual one morning so changed my handle.
I’m somewhat acquainted with the lady who died professionally. Know her as a nice caring woman and it’s a tragedy that she and her son died.
Drivers can be inattentive. I have never rear ended a car but I have come close through inattention or diverted attention. I do question if you should be driving a big rig at 79 years old.
Defensively, if you are stopped waiting to turn left on a busy highway, you should keep your wheels straight ahead until you make the turn and keep an eye on your rear view for people not preparing to stop behind you.
That said, when you hit someone from the rear, you are totally at fault, will be issued a citation, and will be financially liable for the deaths, injuries, and damage caused. You may face manslaughter or homicide charges under certain circumstances. Obviously if you test positive for alcohol or drugs. But also, in the case of commercial drivers, if you have exceeded the allowable driving hours. There may be other circumstances.
I don’t think that I could live after causing the deaths of two other innocent people but everyone has a different level of conscience. I have personally observed a driver with no remorse and only worried about himself after running over a young girl. I have also witnessed a woman with no remorse after running into the back of a motorcycle and seriously injuring the passenger. The woman was unconscious and I don’t know if she lived.
No mistake. You sound like a douche bad!! The poor guy had a accident,that’s all ,and you call for murder charges!! Were you in the trunk? Or does your welfare check give you some kind of ESP?? It’s a shame people lost their lives! But that does not give you the authority to call for murder charges. Liberal scum bags drive me nuts.
This man killed 2 people,one being a 13 year old boy,and his mom. They had just moved to white pass school district this September,.So,he will get away with committing 2 homicides? Bullshit!! He will do time
I knew Kerri as my nurse she was a wonderful,kind person. She will be missed very much by alot of people. I have lived in Randle for 8 years and for one the truck,trailer and pup have been taking corn loaded out of town and back empty last 8 summers flying up and down 12 not following the speed limit. If what some of you say is true that the the company he works for is running him like you say is true then him and the company are on the hook. DOT will fine them both. Another thing where is his log book(s). Drivers have to login all hours of driving time and all of down time. Last time I checked it was 10 hours. Mind you all that is driving your car as well. So I hope they throw the book at him and throw him under the jail and have to feed him with a blow dart gun.
Obviously you’ve released the name of the 39 year old deceased victim in the 10th paragraph.
First off: It’s too bad someone with as little IQ as “some dude” actually chalks this up as just some mistake. This was not a mistake, this was an act of deliberate indifference where the driver of the truck did not care if he ran into and killed people. if he had been paying attention this would never have happened. i do hope he is charged with several counts of vehicular manslaughter and multiple counts of vehicular assault. There is no defense to these charges given that the truck driver chose to hit a vehicle in front of him by not paying attention. This will be a slam dunk for the prosector’s office.
Some dud strikes me as being someone who has maybe been in the truck drivers shoes at some point and got away with it. Maybe he should be charged with wasting air that should go to people who at least make sense.
This is very sad and I went by this accident when I had a booth in Pack wood, I do agree this man driving the truck will not get charged unless he was drinking , yes the company he is working for will be paying a lot. I live off this Hwy and I have almost been hit twice from truckers or people passing truckers taking a left on Peterman Hill rd. This Road is very dangerous and people do not pay attention to the vehicles in front of them. I send my condolences to the family and friends .
The driver won’t face charges, if evidence shows that the company he works for is overworking him to exhaustion. If that turns out to be a factor, the company who employed him may face charges and lawsuits.
Is crazyoldman the former sleeping giant? Sure sounds like him.
Thank you for reporting this. It was a friend of the family who passed away in the car. If people would not be so rushed or looking forward when driving most accidents like these won’t happen. I lost a friend a few years back who was killed from a semi on Hwy 12. Please be watchful when driving. God bless those who were left behind with out their loved ones. Lord Please be with all who were evolved. Amen!!
charges pending for what? Hes a 79 year old man,…a hard working old man with a lifetime of service made one mistake now he will die in prison? unless hes DUI i dont see how its a criminal act? People never get distracted? Sounds like they are trying to take this old man’s retirement and last few good years alive. This is exactly why people have insurance, buckle up and dont take life for granted. But appearantly we havent had a good homicide case in lewis county since booth and the wings. Vultures in the courthouse. Zero traffic fatalites in washington is unrealistic. Zero traffic fatalities in lewis county is also unrealistic. Operation zero means putting another zero in the amount of money they collect from tickets every year. They dont care about lives just money. Sad anyway look at it. Condolences.
It’s comforting to know that there are 80 year olds out there, half asleep, driving semis with double bottom trailers.