By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – The 82-year-old woman found dead after searches for her in the woods outside of Packwood apparently had tumbled down an embankment and wasn’t spotted sooner because of thick brush, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.
Barbara Weed, from Yakima, died from hypothermia due to the cold environment, the Lewis County Coroner’s Office concluded yesterday.
The sheriff’s office was notified on Sunday afternoon Weed had become separated from her companions while berry picking and was missing in the area off of Forest Service Road 45. Her body was found by search and rescue personnel about 10:20 a.m. on Tuesday.
Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said this morning Weed was found less than a quarter mile from the truck they had begun picking from, but was about 40 feet below a steep embankment and would not been easily seen because of the brush. Breen said she had a previous leg injury, so mobility was an apparent issue at times.
The coroner’s office has ruled the death as an accident.
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For background, read “News brief: Missing berry picker found dead near Packwood” from Wednesday August 29, 2018, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter