By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Three out of the four vehicles were totaled, two people were hurt and the alleged causing driver ran away on foot from the scene yesterday afternoon on Interstate 5 in Chehalis.
Troopers called about 4:50 p.m. to the northbound lanes near milepost 77 report that the man initially behind the wheel of the blue Chevrolet pickup was later located blocks away at Northwest Division Street and Hawthorne Place.
Darren D. Cochran, 48, of Rochester, was arrested for third-degree driving with a suspended license, possession of a controlled substance and felony and hit and run, according to the Washington State Patrol. He was booked into the Lewis County Jail.
According to the investigating trooper, traffic had slowed but Cochran did not and his truck struck the rear of a Nissan Altima, shoving it into a Ford Windstar which was pushed into a Buick LeSabre. Only the LeSabre was able to be driven away from the collision, according to the state patrol.
Injured were a 40-year-old woman from Tumwater and a juvenile, according to the state patrol. Both were transported to Providence Centralia Hospital.
The cause of the multiple vehicle wreck was following too closely, according to the investigating trooper.
Trooper Will Finn tweeted just before 6 p.m. all were lanes were opened and the injuries were minor.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter