By Natalie Johnson
The Chronicle, Centralia
Information released during a hectic night for drivers and emergency responders — complete with a medical helicopter landing on I-5 — was spotty at best as emergency crews continued to respond Friday to a series of deadly or serious-injury collisions.
However, information released since has clarified the events of Friday night.
At 6:50 p.m., the Washington State Patrol responded to a report of a vehicle hitting a pedestrian near milepost 81 in the southbound lanes of I-5.
According to a report, the vehicle, a 2006 Saturn Vue SUV driven by a 19-year-old Longview woman, hit a pedestrian walking across I-5.
The pedestrian was declared deceased at the scene by medical personnel and identified by the State Patrol as Lukah K. Herren, 16, of Toledo.
Drugs or alcohol are not suspected as a factor in that crash. No charges are pending.
In the next half hour, traffic in the northbound lanes started to slow as drivers looked at the emergency response in the opposing lanes.
At 7:24 p.m., a semi started a seven-vehicle pileup in the northbound lanes, directly opposite the first crash.
According to a report from the State Patrol, the driver of a 2006 Freightliner semi truck failed to stop for slow traffic.
The driver, Mark E. Torell, 55, of Arlington, was injured and transported to Providence Centralia Hospital.
The cause of the crash is listed as inattention and following too close.
Torell was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to Trooper Will Finn of the Washington State Patrol. It is unknown at this time what substances caused the alleged impairment, Finn said.
“We sent a blood sample to the state crime lab,” he said.
The impact from the semi caused a crash involving six other vehicles. Marjorie J. Schone, 53, of Tigard, Oregon, driving a 2012 Nissan Versa, was injured and transported to Providence Centralia Hospital.
Marion E. Kirkendoll, 80, of Oregon City, Oregon, driving a 2016 Honda Odyssey van, was not injured.
Patricia T. Fralic, 55, of La Conner, driving a 2013 Acura RDX, was injured and transported to Providence Centralia. A passenger in that vehicle, Gregory S. Fralic, 56, of La Conner, was also injured and transported to Providence.
Rick J. Nickolas, 57, of Eagle Creek, Oregon, driving a 2004 Ford Escape, was injured and transported to Providence.
Brad O. Hitchcock, 40, of Tumwater, driving a 2013 Toyota Prius, was injured and transported to St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma.
The Riverside Fire Authority reported that one driver, whom the RFA did not identify, was airlifted after being extricated from his vehicle.
A medical helicopter landed on I-5.
Virk Navdeep, of Abbotsford, British Columbia, driving a 2001 Peterbilt semi, was not injured.
Another crash, a two-car fender bender, was reported in the midst of the response to the previous crashes, Finn said.
According to information from the Chehalis Police Department, that crash was reported at 7:01 p.m. at milepost 77 of Northbound I-5.
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