Lewis County Sirens.com

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The Rochester mother whose 8-year-old daughter was killed when their van wrecked on Monday afternoon remains hospitalized, but is listed in satisfactory condition this morning.

Maria Cebrero-Herrera, 42, was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with serious injuries following the collision near Galvin and Gallagher roads in Centralia.

Centralia police say Cebrero-Herrera was traveling westbound when her van crossed the center line and struck a large parked pickup truck, head on.

The child had been seat-belted in the back seat, but was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police. The mother was conscious and in an ambulance when police arrived, but then put into a helicopter that landed in a nearby field, according to Sgt. Carl Buster said.

Both vehicles sustained extensive damage, Buster said.

The rare in-city fatality crash occurred on a two-lane road where the speed limit is 35 mph.

“It’s just sad,” Buster said. “I can count on one hand the number of fatals I’ve been to in 20 years, in town.”

Buster said why it happened, he did not know.

There were people in the area who heard the crash, but none who saw it occur, he said of the initial investigation. Buster said he was not aware of any reports the driver was speeding.

Because of the death, the Centralia Police Department requested assistance from the Washington State Patrol’s major accident team.

They sent a technician to collect evidence and map the scene. The state patrol will take statements, and once all the reports are compiled, forward them to Centralia police, state patrol spokesperson Trooper Will Finn said.

The coroner said yesterday Jaredsi Torres died from head injuries. The Rochester School District is asking the community to keep the second grader and her family in its thoughts and prayers.
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For background, read “News brief: Vehicle accident child victim was from Rochester” from Tuesday May 17, 2016, here

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 18th, 2016 at 10:32 am and is filed under News briefs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.