South Scheuber Road wreck / Courtesy photo by Riverside Fire Authority.
ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD
• A driver was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital early yesterday morning after their car left the roadway and struck a large tree along the 1600 block of South Scheuber Road in Centralia. Firefighters responding to the approximately 1:30 a.m. call found the driver still inside the vehicle, according to Riverside Fire Authority. The car sustained significant damage, with debris scattered in all directions, Fire Capt. Erik Olson stated. The injuries appeared to be non-life threatening, according to Olson.
• A motorist escaped serious injury when her car collided with a fence and came to rest in a yard along Southwest William Avenue in Chehalis at about 4:45 a.m. yesterday, according to the Chehalis Fire Department. It happened between Second and Third streets, according to Firefighter Braxton Traylor. While a two-by-four crashed through her windshield, it veered toward the passenger side, Traylor said. A second piece of lumber pierced the vehicle between the brake and gas pedal, he said. The driver was taken to Providence Centralia Hospital as a precaution, Traylor said.
• A 2011 Kia Soul was totaled when its 20-year-old driver ran into the back of a semi truck on northbound Interstate 5 near milepost 60 late Friday night. Brenden K. Banta, 20, from Kalama, and his 17-year-old passenger from Woodland were both injured and taken to Providence Centralia Hospital, according to the Washington State Patrol. Troopers called about 11:45 p.m. report the driver of the 2017 Peterbilt tractor was unhurt and the big rig was able to be driven from the scene. The collision is under investigation. Banta was to be arrested for driving under the influence and vehicular assault, according to the state patrol.
HEAVY SHOPLIFTING
• Centralia police arrested a pair of teenagers and a third person for organized retail theft in connection with an approximately 6 p.m. call yesterday associated with an address on the 1300 block of Lum Road. Elijah A Chambers, 18, of Renton and Brianna R Westwood of Kent as well as a 16 year old boy were booked, according to the Centralia Police Department.
AUTO THEFT
• An abandoned Kia Optima was recovered at Hemlock and Pine streets in Centralia about 3:20 p.m. on Friday, according to the Centralia Police Department. It was stolen from California, according to police.
OTHER THEFT
• Speakers were stolen from a storage unit at the 1200 block of North Pearl Street, according to a report made to police on Friday morning.
• Police were called about the theft of power tools from a business at the 2000 block of Johnson Road in Centralia on Friday morning.
• Centralia police a report on Friday afternoon that $40 was stolen from a resident at the 1300 block of Alexander Street.
• Centralia police were called to a vehicle prowl at the 600 block of Warsaw Street at about 1:20 p.m. on Friday. Keys were taken, according to the Centralia Police Department.
FRAUD
• Centralia police took a report just after noon on Friday from the 800 block of North Pearl Street of an unknown person using another individual’s social security number and birth date to fraudulently file a tax return.
AND MORE
• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for drugs, warrants, trespassing, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license, anti-harassment order violation; responses for alarm, dispute, civil issue, vehicle collision, suspicious circumstances … and more among 298 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 48-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter