People stand outside their vehicles along the northbound lanes of Interstate 5 on Thursday afternoon outside Napavine. Law enforcement shut down the interstate due to an emergency.
People stand outside their vehicles along the northbound lanes of Interstate 5 on Thursday afternoon outside Napavine. Law enforcement shut down the interstate due to an emergency.
A 39-year-old man died Thursday after he was struck by a vehicle on Interstate 5 south of Chehalis while trying to help push a disabled car across the northbound lanes of the freeway, according to the Washington State Patrol.
Miguel A. Melendez, of Everson, stopped to assist the driver of a 1988 Ford Mustang that was experiencing mechanical issues and partially blocking the left lane near milepost 71 at about 12:40 p.m.
Washington State Patrol Sgt. Doug Pardue called it “a tragic decision.”
The “good Samaritan" had pulled in front of the disabled vehicle to help the driver push his car from the left side of the freeway to the right shoulder, Pardue told the Chronicle.
As they tried to push the car across the freeway, a 2010 Ford Explorer driven by a 68-year-old Marysville man struck and killed Melendez while also colliding with the disabled vehicle.
The 23-year-old Redmond man who had been driving the disabled Mustang was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital with unspecified injuries.
The driver of the SUV that struck Melendez was not injured. He's not considered at fault for the accident, according to the State Patrol, which listed the cause as a pedestrian in the roadway.
“We’re not seeing any criminal activity … no signs of drug or alcohol,” Pardue said.
The freeway was blocked from about 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
