According to authorities, a blue vehicle heading south on I-5 made a lane change and crashed with a Toyota Rav4 also heading south. The force caused the Rav4 to lose control and it slammed into the freeway barrier
Lewis County, WA – Miguel Lopez Tercero, 51, of Longview, was among four people injured in a hit-and-run collision that occurred on Interstate 5 near Napavine in Lewis County on Friday morning, according to a report by the Washington State Patrol.
The two-vehicle accident happened on the southbound side of Interstate 5 at around 9:40 a.m. on Friday, January 16.
According to authorities, a blue vehicle heading south on I-5 made a lane change and crashed with a Toyota Rav4 also heading south. The force caused the Rav4 to lose control and it slammed into the freeway barrier.
The Rav4 then overturned and came to a rest on the left shoulder. The driver of the blue vehicle failed to stop and continued heading south after the crash.
The Washington State Patrol and firefighters responded to the scene shortly after and attended to the injured parties.
Tercero, who was the driver of the Rav4, and her three passengers, Ernestina Velasquez Bautista, 48, Juana Lopez Velasquez, 31, both of Longview, and a 14-month-old child, were all transported to Providence Centralia Hospital with unspecified injuries.
The driver who fled the scene was yet to be located. A description of the hit-and-run driver or vehicle involved were not immediately available.
The Washington State Patrol is conducting an investigation into the accident.
Traffic-related deaths in Lewis County have remained a serious concern, averaging 11 fatalities annually between 2021 and 2023. The situation worsened as it reached its highest point in 2022, when 17 lives were lost due to traffic collisions. Data from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) shows that a large share of these fatal crashes occurred on state highways, with Interstate 5 ranking among the most dangerous roadways in the county.
These routes are particularly hazardous due to a combination of sharp curves and heavy traffic flow, including frequent semi-truck activity. Such conditions often lead to risky passing maneuvers, increasing the likelihood of vehicles veering into oncoming lanes. In addition to roadway design and traffic volume, contributing factors commonly include impaired driving, excessive speed, unsafe passing, and driver distraction. Motorists are strongly encouraged to stay alert, especially when traveling through high-risk areas like I-5, to reduce the chances of being involved in a devastating crash.
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