4-vehicle crash injures 3 near Kalama

Three people were sent to PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center Thursday following a four-vehicle crash on the northbound lanes of Interstate 5 south of Kalama.

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The crash happened just before 3 p.m., near milepost 29, close to Louis Rasmussen Beach Park, according to a Washington State Patrol press memo.

Savannah R. Okutsu, 32, of Longview, was headed north in a white Dodge Journey, when she reportedly struck a commercial truck driven by Nestor O. Ayala Ruiz, 34, of Ridgefield.

Ayala Ruiz also lost control, the memo states, and struck a 2019 Ram truck, driven by Robert Seufferheld, 76, and his passenger, Lois Trevorthen, 65, both of Battle Ground.

While coming to a rest on its side on the right shoulder, the Ram truck then struck a Toyota 4Runner, driven by Esperanza Diaz Urtiz, 36, of Kelso.

Okutsu, Diaz Urtiz, and Ayala Ruiz were taken to the hospital for undisclosed injuries. However, Okutsu was the only person cited over the crash, and the cause of the incident is under investigation.

The memo states neither alcohol nor drugs were involved in the crash.

All drivers were heading north at the time of the crash and all people involved were wearing their seatbelts.

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