News brief: Fatality on state Route 507 blamed on texting

2016-1206-sr507fatal

Roadway is closed at 20200 block of state Route 507 for investigation. / Courtesy photo by Thurston County Sheriff’s Office.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A 24-year-old Chehalis man was texting when his car left the roadway and struck a tree in South Thurston County yesterday evening.

Daniel M. Aker died at the scene, according to the the Washington State Patrol.

Troopers called just before 6 p.m. to state Route 507 about three-quarters of a mile south of Bucoda found Aker’s Honda Civic was totaled, according to the state patrol.

The highway was shut down until just before 10 p.m.

The investigating trooper determined Aker was traveling northbound and texting when his car crossed over the oncoming lane and hit a tree on its driver’s side.

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25 Responses to “News brief: Fatality on state Route 507 blamed on texting”

  1. Peabody Slim says:

    I’m with you Dr. Gringo I’m sick of all these selfish people I see playing with their phones and driving. Good thing he didn’t kill another innocent motorist while Texting and Driving.. The texting and driving penality needs to be tougher it’s worse than drinking and driving. At least drunks are trying to look at the road. Play stupid games and win stupid prizes.

  2. SugarNSpice says:

    Sorry to hear this. I am from that area though… so I am also grateful he did not hit anyone or any houses.

  3. Fed Up says:

    To Jeramiah – Thank you…couldn’t have said it better myself.

    To Peabody Slum (I meant the typo) – Please, for the love of God, get a job and turn your fucking computer off!! You are jack hole who needs a hobby or to volunteer, anything! Just keep your dirty little fingers off of a keyboard. You are beyond a joke and everyone knows it.

    My thoughts and prayers go out to his family. I did not know him, but I am a compassionate person. I agree we all need to put our phones down, but this is not the time to talk shit. Support the family and honor the memory of a good person who left a young child behind.

  4. Jeramiah Wallace says:

    You guys are some sad ass mother fuckers, Danny Akers passed away and your talking shit on the post. get a life.

  5. crushed says:

    Danny was an amazing driver, i am not sating he wasnt texting. But its also very possible the weather played a part in this tragedy. Regardless of all that, he is gone and it hurts. He brought a lot of happiness to a lot of people, and that is what will be remembered. Like Danny always said, “the sun will come up tomorrow”

  6. Sara Marie abbott says:

    Alot of people lost a friend, brother, son, ect so how about good old lewis county keeps their opinions on the matter to themselves instead of spreading more pain with your hurtful judgemental comments. Obviously he was texting, so he deserves this Orr what? You all check your messages hypocrites it only takes a second!!!!!!

  7. crushed says:

    I did not have the opportunity to get to know this man as much as i would have liked. He is my boyfriends brother and will be forever missed. My heart aches for those who are hurt by this. Danny was taken way to soon. Rest easy my friend

  8. still waiting for justice says:

    social media is here too stay folks so get use to the good and bad that come with it, I feel for this family and the pain this causes, but I would rather have them kill themselves then hit some other person head on, so take the comments that make you feel good and ignore the comments that make you feel bad or angry, but remember, if this young man was not texting, he would be alive right now and their would be no comments

  9. Dr Gringo says:

    I’m just glad he didn’t kill another motorist. Not that such a possibility ever matters to people who text and drive.

  10. HotRod Girl says:

    He was my 96 yr old aunties great grandson. Everyone who loved Danny is in pain. Please keep the rude remarks off of facebook. He is gone but his family is here and need understanding and prayer please

  11. Peabody Slim says:

    I’m sick and tired of all the people I see texting and driving out there. I often drive by them and their eyes never even make contact with the road. It’s a scary thought that so many people are not even paying attention to the road nowadays. I would rather take my chances with a drink driver covering one eye while driving than a texting driver not even looking at the road. People that are texting and driving are very selfish and have no regards for the safety of others. The moral of this story is if you play stupid games you win stupid prizes. Operating a vehicle while distracting yourself is like waving a loaded gun around and shooting at random people. The risks are clear and the results are even clearer, if you text and drive expect the fact that you can kill or be killed for being selfish. You’re text can wait it’s not that important.

  12. Ranae R Kendall says:

    Who really cares if he was texting? This man is no longer alive folks. Let’s send our prayers for his son and all that were close to him. This little guy will never know his father and all that he has lost. And if he was texting, let’s hope this sends another message to everyone out there, Don’t Text and Drive.

  13. Jessi says:

    This was my sisters boyfriend. Texting or not.. she is in so much pain right now

  14. Wyatt says:

    texting n driving is just as bad as drinkin n drven. Werd up I’ll pour you a shot buddy.

  15. jlyfsh says:

    Deplorable Me,,, The phone was in his hand when they got to him… He was texting his girlfriend…

  16. Victoria Sturdevant says:

    My phone shows the date & time of my texts. Isn’t that true of most (if not all) phones? His phone was probably located at scene and texting was apparent.

  17. Could Be says:

    Could be that they found his phone with an unfinished, unsent text message still on it.

  18. Scott Reidy says:

    If you look at the time of the last text on his phone and the time the accident was reported you can determine he was texting and driving. Not quick to judge. And…Soy Como Soy: learn to use punctuation when you compose your thoughts on paper or online. Just sayin’…

  19. Heather Echols says:

    Maybe his phone was discovered with a half written text on it just before he crashed??????

  20. Ridge says:

    They probably could tell when they picked up the phone and found it was in mid-text. It’s not rocket science folks. Checking phones at the scene of an accident is routine these days.

  21. soy como soy says:

    I dont think he was how can they know easy to say that

  22. soy como soyb says:

    Quick to judge

  23. soy como soy says:

    I was wondering that too how do they cime to that conclusion but because he pass its easy to say

  24. Deplorable Me says:

    I was curious how the WSP determined that he was ‘texting’?