Lewis County Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor Brad Meagher and Washington State Patrol Deputy Sgt. Rob Brusseau examine the marks left at the scene of Monday night's crash just outside of Onalaska on Tuesday afternoon.
Two mourners walk away from the scene of a crash after placing flowers and balloons on the side of state Route 508 in July.
Seeking Answers: Inquiry Could Take Six to Eight Weeks as Investigators Seek to Identify Cause of Crash That Killed Three
By Natalie Johnson
njohnson@chronline.com
Investigators returned Tuesday afternoon to the scene of a crash near Onalaska that killed three teenagers and resulted in the arrest of a Chehalis man for allegedly driving under the influence.
They were there to review evidence of the crash in the daylight as part of an investigation that could last six to eight weeks.
Lewis County Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor Brad Meagher said detectives need to finish interviews, complete crash reconstructions and receive toxicology reports before the prosecutor’s office can consider any further criminal charges in the deadly crash.
“We can’t make any conclusions at this point,” Meagher told The Chronicle Tuesday. “We look at everything … We want to make the right decision. We don’t want to rush to judgment.”
All three of the teens killed in the crash were riding in the Land Rover, which carried a total of eight teenagers, including four 13-year-old girls, one 17-year-old boy and three 18-year-old boys. Only two were wearing seat belts, according to the State Patrol.
The driver, Arnold W. Mullinax, 18, died at the scene, as did 13-year-old Taylor Thompson. Dakota L. Dunivin, 18, who was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with life-threatening injuries, died Tuesday afternoon, according to the State Patrol.
Kelly Woods said her son, mother of 17-year-old passenger Chris Woods, doesn’t remember much about the crash, but told her some details. Woods and Mullinax were the only two wearing seat belts, according to the state patrol.
“Dakota was ejected,” she said. “(Chris) held him as he lay on the ground.”
Woods traveled to Harborview and sat with Dunivin until he died, his mother said.
“Thankfully, my son lived, but the trauma of seeing his friends so violently taken away will leave scars that will never heal,” Kelly Woods wrote to The Chronicle. “Once he's had time to recover from his injuries and the shock, he will realize what a hero he truly is.”
The fourth boy in the crash, Jonathan T. Griffis, 18, was not injured, but was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital.
Of the three remaining 13-year-old girls in the car, one was injured and all three were transported to Providence. There names were not released.
In some ways, it was the kind of crash law enforcement officers warn teens about, Meagher said.
“It just underscores how important it is to pay attention to your driving,” he said.
The crash occurred just before 10 p.m. Monday a mile west of Onalaska on state Route 508 when the Land Rover collided head-on with the Ford.
The Land Rover was heading east — toward Onalaska — when it and the Ford, which was heading west, collided near the center of the highway. Both vehicles were over the center line, according to the Washington State Patrol.
Detective Sgt. Rob Brusseau, of the Washington State Patrol, said four WSP detectives are working on the case.
The State Patrol begins investigations by examining physical evidence at the scene of the crash, then interviewing witnesses, drivers and passengers, he said.
According to the state Department of Transportation, there have been 27 reported traffic accidents, including one fatality, on the stretch of state Route 508 between Gish Road and downtown Onalaska since 2012.
While state Route 508 has a series of sharp turns near where the crash happened, Brusseau said he does not believe the roadway itself played a role in the collision.
Investigators used spray-paint to designate elements of the collision and to recreate the crash. They took pictures of the scene in the daylight Tuesday before Lewis County Fire District 1 crews used tanker trucks to wash debris off the road.
Onalaska School District Superintendent Jeff Davis said the crash has strongly affected the small community.
“We have some staff that are pretty shook up,” he said. “Anytime we have a tragedy like this it’s really difficult. We’re a pretty tight-knit community … We’ll take it day by day.”
The Onalaska School District opened a “safe room” from noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday at Onalaska High School.
Students, parents, staff and community members were invited to come to the room and visit with each other. Local pastors were also there, Davis said.
“Anytime there’s a tragedy, it’s a place where people can go to feel safe,” Davis said. “They can grieve, they can remember.”
