Authorities say an intoxicated driver on Saturday hit three people helping with a previous fatal crash on Spirit Lake Memorial Highway.
The two separate vehicle accidents, which occurred about five hours apart and both suspected of involving drugs and alcohol, resulted in the death of a driver and an injured Cowlitz County Coroner's Office employee.
Washington State Patrol Trooper Dakota Russell reported on X Saturday that two patrol vehicles, a Washington State Department of Transportation vehicle, and a Cowlitz County Coroner Office vehicle were struck.
He said the coroner's office employee was taken to the hospital with injuries.
Russell did not name the employee, but in a Sunday press release Cowlitz County Coroner Dana Tucker said Deputy Coroner Enriquez was injured on Saturday while finalizing her scene investigation for the Friday accident.
Enriquez's first name is not listed in Tucker's press release, but a Washington State Patrol press memo says pedestrian Justine L. Enriquez was injured.
The first accident occurred around 9:05 p.m. Friday, and the other at 1:54 a.m. Saturday, both near Reynolds Road, between the Shell station near Tower Road and Seaquest State Park in the Castle Rock area.
Saturday
Two vehicles and a pedestrian were controlling traffic around the previous wreck on Spirit Lake Memorial Highway, when a suspected intoxicated Castle Rock driver heading east didn't yield and hit all of them, according to a Washington State Patrol press memo.
Michael D. Sturgill, 43, is suspected of driving under the influence, vehicular assault and reckless endangerment, the memo states. He was in Cowlitz County Jail as of Sunday morning.
Enriquez, 35, of Kelso was injured and transported to PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center in Longview.
Neither driver Rachel M. Suitter, 39, of Ethel, nor driver Ryan P. Hauck, 40, of Winlock were injured, the memo continues. Both were in Ford Explorers.
It is unclear which agencies employ Suitter and Hauck.
Sturgill's totaled 2007 Dodge Ram pickup was impounded by troopers, according to the report.
Tucker posted on Facebook around midnight Sunday, saying "our deputy was transported to a southern medical facility where she underwent surgery early ... for her injuries, but is stable and doing well."
Tucker adds "she will have a long road ahead of her."
She said "the scene should have been so much worse," but God was protecting those involved.
She thanked Cowlitz County Coroner's Office Chief Deputy Christie Masters for staying with the injured woman, as well as WSP, the Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office, Christian Brothers towing, Kelso Police Department and more for their help.
Friday
Enriquez, Suitter and Hauck were at the scene due to a previous fatal crash involving a suspected intoxicated Silver Lake man.
Dylon S. Paulson, 21, was speeding east in a blue 2011 Chevy Silverado pickup on Friday, when he left the roadway to the right, rolled and struck a utility pole, according to a different Washington State Patrol press memo.
Paulson died at the scene, while his two Castle Rock passengers were uninjured.
Neither Paulson nor passenger Kassidy M. Handel Leatherman, 19, were wearing seatbelts, but passenger Rylee J. Teeter, 19, was.
The pickup was totaled, the memo states.
Washington State Department of Transportation announced at 11:20 p.m. Friday the road was closed in both directions near the scene. The department announced around 10 a.m. Saturday that the road reopened.
