Responders on the scene at southbound Interstate 5. / Courtesy photo by Lewis County Sheriff’s Office
Updated
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Two people in a Ford Focus were airlifted after their car was sandwiched in between a pair of vehicles in a rear-end collision Interstate 5 south of Chehalis yesterday.
Troopers called to the southbound lanes near milepost 70 just after 1 p.m. found all three vehicles were totaled, according to the Washington State Patrol.
The Ford Focus, occupied by a driver from Hillsboro, Oregon and a passenger from Seattle, was stopped behind a pickup truck for traffic when 21-year-old Ashley M. Smith from Centralia rear ended them, according to the state patrol.
Smith was driving a Honda Civic and was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital with unspecified injuries, the investigating trooper reports. Her passenger Jordan C. Smith, 24, was reportedly unhurt.
The driver of the pickup was reportedly also uninjured..
LifeFlight flew Jody M. Bagnariol, 63, and Elisabeth R. Rudolph, 50, to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver, according to the state patrol.
The collision is under investigation.
Update: Both occupants of the Ford Focus subsequently died at the hospital, according to the state patrol.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
21 is not a young girl its an adult .Sitting in prison will teach you a lesson.Your stupidity cost lives and ruined others.You will pay the rest of your life.Own up to it you did it.
Gerri,
“Every single one of us” didn’t KILL people!!!!
One of those she killed was a woman with FOUR CHILDREN.
And this absurdity that is hearts breaking “for the young woman who rear-ended them” is grossly misplaced.
How about you people show some regard for FOUR CHILDREN who lost their mother to some idiot who wasn’t paying attention on the road???
This is my 2nd reply.and only comments I’ve ever made to this particular type of stuff..people will think what they want, and they’ll say what they want, but I don’t think it’s very wise to post things about some one all over social media if you don’t know the facts..even if what ever your posting is true I don’t know what it accomplishes slamming people with their wrongs when every one of us aren’t perfect..like I commented a few days ago..I bet every single one of us has been distracted..distracted isn’t just use of your cell, it’s what ever causes your inattentikn to what you need to focused on and ANY TIME some one is distracted over any thing, it doesn’t matter what it is, if something like this happens they’ll have to live with this the rest of their lives..some of us I’m sure have had close calls and no one knows but you, and some of us nothing has happened, thankfully..but a lot more people that are admitting to it are distracted drivers..not saying it’s right..but just because you get away with it doesn’t make you any better..maybe we all should learn from this and be attentive at driving at all times
LOL Jason – clever wording there.
No mention of the other phone in the car!
IF the girl was posing for “selfies” taken by the other person in the car, then she would be guilty of negligent driving, at the very least.
Jason lol oh jason where do we begin on you my friend
I don’t know what witness you are talking to smc but either they lied or you are because my friend was there and the girl was not on her cell phone and her phone proved it. I don’t usually say anything on these things because of most of the garbage people say but lying I don’t like when other people can have there lives ruined because of it.
When will a highley advanced police unit with hidden cameras in a vehicle start recording texters and phone users while driving. Get the offenders face and device their using along with the car and plate number and send them a 1,000 dollar fine for breaking the law. The second violation the fine doubles then the 3rd 90 days in jail. Will that get people attention?
Some of you are pathetic. Two INOCENT people are dead because someone could not be bothered to pay attention to the responsibility of driving. Hell yes jail this person, forever as far as I am concerned. Why should she ever breath a free breath again, two good people won’t be enjoying that privilege. Ever.
Two people dead and we’re got people here expressing more sympathy for the 21-year-old who caused it than for the deceased. SMH.
Hearing from the witnesses this young girl was taking selfies. I am not sure I can get past this fact.
I agree with you Gerri . What is the sense of sending a girl to prison when she will probably punish herself the rest of her life. I know I have been distracted before. I have had deer jump and jerked my head toward them instinctively without even realizing what I had done till after. I feel for all the family’s involved. Those that lost there loved ones and the girl Ashley.
I agree with C James..I’m not condoning any wrong doing at all or minimizing liss of lives..and by writing what I’m writing I’m not saying 2 wrongs make it right, or however many the # is..I bet if we were honest with ourselves there are a lot of us that have been distracted driving more than once in our lives, by many things..some.of us are lucky/blessed that nothing becomes of it, others are not..like this instance..she will have to live with this for the rest of her life..I’m certain she did not start off her day intending for this to happen..she is not a murderer..there is a difference..I don’t believe sending her to jail is going to solve anything at all
This is a terrible tragedy for all involved. no matter who was at fault 2 lives were lost and one will never recover. A 21 year old young girl who will never be the same. My heart goes out to those family’s who lost loved ones and to the young girl. I don’t think sending someone to jail and destroying another life will help and if the 2 women who lost there lives were still alive they would probably feel the same.
Elizabeth was a lovely lady. My son and Her daughter and other kids went to the same school. He daughter was not only in my sons class, but as babies were dedicated together the same Sunday. I am heartbroken for Liz’s husband and children! She was a woman of faith and I know she is with the Lord, but this grief will not be easy to overcome. Till we meet again sweet Elizabeth.
One of the deceased was my friend. How can any responsible driver not be aware of traffic stopping on a freeway. If she was distracted by her phone – texting or by conversation with her passenger, then she should be prosecuted for murder. What started out as a fun road trip for two friends turned into tragedy for two families and many friends, leaving the victims with horrific injuries that took their lives. Ms. Smith should have been in the hospital to witness the anguish and pain of the victim’s families and to see the result of her negligence. May Jody and Liz rest in peace.
Sundays on I-5 have been so busy and getting busier. STP traffic added to it this week end. This tragedy is so sad for all involved. May those that died RIP and 21 yr. old Ashley recover emotionally and physically.
Sharyn, one of the ladies that died was a dear friend of mine. Since Lis is from Seattle we will not get updates. Her friends and family need answers. I hope you will continue to cover this horrific and tragic story
idk, whatever it was, that’s going to be on her mind for the rest of her life
Passed this horrific accident and am saddened by the loss of life. My heart breaks for the young women who rear ended them. People please pay attention while you are driving.
Terrible news, tragic that two people have died as a result of this incident. I certainly hope 21-year-old Ashley M. Smith from Centralia recovers completely. Lots of unanswered questions here, texting?