Right lane northbound I-5 near Lewis-Thurston county line closed for investigation. / WSDOT image
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – An 80-year-old motorist is dead after his car was struck by a semi truck late last night on Interstate 5 north of Centralia.
Troopers called about 11:45 p.m. to the northbound lanes near milepost 86 found the Subaru Legacy was totaled.
Edward P. Chambers, 80, of Beaverton, Oregon died, according to the Washington State Patrol. His 19-year-old passenger, Scott R. Anderson, of Hillsboro, Oregon, sustained minor injuries and was treated at Providence St. Peter Hospital, according to the state patrol.
The driver of the 2017 Peterbilt with double trailer, Michael L. Buterbaugh, 36, from Yelm, was uninjured, the investigating trooper reports.
Both vehicles had been in lane one approaching the Southwest 216th Avenue overpass when the big rig hit the car, according to the state patrol.
The collision is under investigation, with charges pending the outcome, but drugs or alcohol are suspected to be involved, according to the state patrol.
Trooper Brooke Bova however Tweeted at 1:34 a.m. that the truck driver was in custody for vehicular homicide.
Bova tweeted again just after 7 a.m. that just as the state patrol was clearing the scene, an inattentive driver struck a WSDOT incident response truck. “No injuries,” she stated.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
Need to update your news article. The driver of the semi has been cleared and no charges will be filed. Toxoligy report came back clean, just an unfortunate accident with being late at night, dark area and car was in traveling lane.