A 30-year-old Centralia man who died after crashing into a tree in the 700 block of Middle Fork Road south of Chehalis on Sept. 24 was identified in a news release from the Lewis County Coroner’s Office Tuesday.
Kyle R. Perkins, 30, was driving a 1998 Toyota Camry westbound on Middle Fork Road when, at 6:10 p.m., the vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree, causing it to partially roll, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office,
Witnesses reported the crash to 911.
“It is unknown why the driver left the roadway,” said Lewis County Sheriff’s Office Field Operations Chief Dustin Breen in an email to The Chronicle last Friday.
Lewis County deputies responded and found the man deceased, according to the sheriff’s office.
The Washington State Patrol aided with the investigation of the scene.
While Perkins had been identified by family and friends online, the Lewis County Coroner’s Office had not released the man’s identity before Tuesday. The cause of death was multiple blunt force trauma and the manner is accidental, according to the coroner’s office.
Perkins’ family published an obituary in The Chronicle last Saturday. The text is below:
Kyle Robert Perkins, 30, was taken far too soon in a tragic car accident on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022.
He is survived by his mother, Colleen Sharkey; father, Rob Perkins; brother, John Sharkey; and many other extended family members on both the Sharkey and Perkins sides.
Kyle was raised in Centralia, Washington, where he attended St. Joseph’s School and Centralia High School. Within the Centralia community, he participated in football, baseball, basketball and golf. His family would describe him as a teddy bear, a goof ball and someone who has always been full of life. Kyle was at his happiest while making others happy. He was always trying his best to make others smile, even when the timing wasn’t appropriate. In his last years of life, he spent most of his time at a ball field playing slow pitch with friends, gaming or making videos to share online for a laugh.
His love of making people laugh came from a love of people. He was a big guy and he loved even bigger. If you were his friend, you were his friend for life and could always count on him for a shoulder to cry on and a few good laughs when you needed it the most.
We will celebrate the life of Kyle Perkins on Sunday, Oct. 2, from 2 to 5 p.m. at The White Space, located in downtown Centralia at 203 N. Tower Ave. We encourage you to come as you are, share your best memories of Kyle and take the opportunity to appreciate the positive impact he had on the lives of many. Please share this information with anyone who you think would like to attend.
If you would like to donate to the family’s expense of this event, please Venmo @ John-Sharkey-10 or contact Washington Federal Bank to make donations to John Sharkey on behalf of Kyle Perkins.
