The Enterprise - White Salmon, Washington

Police

Report for WSP and HR Sheriff

August 28, 2012

Two Goldendale residents were injured in a log truck accident on Friday, Aug. 24, 2012, at approximately 12:40 p.m. The accident occurred at the intersection of State Route 14 and SR 141A, just east of Underwood.

According to the report, A 2013 Kenworth tractor and loaded log trailer, driven by Gregory Whitefoot, 54, White Swan, were southbound on SR 141A, proceeding eastbound onto SR 14. A 1990 Peterbilt tractor with two loaded log trailers, driven by Kyle I. Kolbaba, 44, Goldendale, was traveling westbound on SR 14. Kolbaba swerved his log truck to the right to avoid colliding with Whitefoot's truck. Kolbaba's truck then rolled onto its left side, coming to rest off the westbound shoulder of SR 141A. The accident caused his load of logs to fall from the trailers.

Kolbaba suffered neck and back injury and was transported to Skyline Hospital in White Salmon. His passenger, Jennifer McCall, 32, Goldendale, also suffered neck and back injury. She, too, was transported to Skyline Hospital.

SR 141A was closed to traffic for over six hours

The case is still under investigation.

An 83-year-old Vancouver man was killed in a two vehicle accident on SR 14 near milepost 43, .5 miles west of Stevenson. The accident occurred on Aug. 25, 2012, at approximately 11:50 a.m.

According to the report, Walter B. McIlwain, 31, Seattle, was driving his 1991 Toyota pickup eastbound on SR 14. A 2009 Toyota Camry driven by Jacqueline E. Marsh, 49, Vancouver was also eastbound on SR 14, ahead of the pickup. There was an uninvolved vehicle between the pickup and Camry. The Camry came to a stop in the eastbound lane to make a left turn. The uninvolved vehicle stopped too. The pickup crossed the centerline into the westbound lane to pass the vehicles. The Camry then entered the westbound lane to make a left turn. The front of the pickup collided with the driver's side of the Camry in the westbound lane. The Camry was then pushed off the northside of the roadway and went down an embankment.

McIlwain suffered left shoulder pain and was transported to Peace Health Southwest Hospital in Vancouver. Marsh suffered chest and neck pain. She, too, was transported to Peace Health. John R. Cox, 49, White Swan, was a passenger in the pickup. He had chest pain and was taken to Peace Health. Hans P. Egger, 83, Vancouver, a passenger in the Camry, suffered head and neck trauma and was pronounced dead at the scene. He was taken by Gardner's Funeral Home.

The accident is still under investigation.

Two people were injured in a two-vehicle accident on SR 97 at Simcoe Drive, just outside the Goldendale city limits on Aug. 26, 2012, at approximately 12:05 a.m.

According to the report, Michael Wright, 53, Goldendale, was making a left turn with his 2009 Chevrolet Silverado from eastbound Simcoe to northbound SR97. A 2002 Toyota Camry driven by Richard Mielke, 69, Vancouver, was southbound on SR 97. The two vehicles collided in the southbound lane.

Neither Wright nor Mielke was injured. Robin Godsworth, 34, Vancouver, a passenger in the Camry, suffered lacerations to her right foot. Marilee Mielke, 66, Vancouver, a second passenger in the Camry, suffered chest pains. Both women were transported to Klickitat Valley Hospital in Goldendale.

The accident is still under investigation.

A California man was injured in a one-vehicle accident on Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2012, at approximately 11:25 a.m. The accident occurred on SR 14 at milepost 77, two miles east of Lyle.

According to the report, Alvin C. Fernandez, 45, The Dalles, was driving his 2002 Chevrolet Corvette eastbound on SR 14. He lost control of the vehicle and it struck the eastbound guardrail. The vehicle then traveled across the eastbound and westbound lanes and went off the westbound shoulder, coming to rest in the ditch.

Fernandez was not injured. However, his passenger, Matthew A. Jones, 14, Perris, Calif., suffered injuries to his neck and back. He was transported to Skyline Hospital in White Salmon by ambulance.

Fernandez was charged with negligent driving.

Following a nighttime operation on Aug. 25, 2012, deputies arrested stabbing suspect Edgar Omar Rodriguez-Garibo without incident. Deputies had received information during the week that Rodriguez was still in the area, after the Aug. 18 attack of an upper valley orchard owner.

Rodriguez-Garibo was lodged on a $250,000 bond at NORCOR on charges of attempted assault I, assault II and sex abuse I. Skamania County Sheriff's K9 unit and the Oregon State Police assisted with the operation.