Winlock man faces potential homicide charges after fatal crash in Thurston County 

By The Chronicle staff 
Posted 11/15/24

A 30-year-old Winlock man is facing potential charges of vehicular homicide, second-degree murder and felony eluding after a fatal crash in Thurston County that occurred as he was trying to elude …

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Winlock man faces potential homicide charges after fatal crash in Thurston County 

Posted

A 30-year-old Winlock man is facing potential charges of vehicular homicide, second-degree murder and felony eluding after a fatal crash in Thurston County that occurred as he was trying to elude deputies on Thursday night, according to the Washington State Patrol. 

A 33-year-old Olympia man was killed after Matthew R. Orr allegedly ran a red light on Tumwater Boulevard at about 10:15 p.m. Thursday. Orr had earlier fled an attempted traffic stop by the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office on Yelm Highway Southeast, according to the sheriff’s office. 

The name of the victim, who died at the scene, will be released after the notification of his next of kin. He’s described by the state patrol as a 33-year-old Olympia man. 

Orr was allegedly driving recklessly on Yelm Highway Southeast prior to the crash. He was clocked traveling approximately 62 miles per hour in a 35 mph zone. A deputy attempted a traffic stop, but lost sight of Orr’s vehicle after he turned west on Tumwater Boulevard Southeast. 

The deputy discovered the crash scene on Capitol Boulevard a short time later. Deputies rendered aid to the victim, but the victim died at the scene. Orr was captured immediately, according to the sheriff’s office. 



According to the state patrol’s account, Orr was traveling west in a 2018 Dodge Charger on Tumwater Boulevard approaching Capitol Boulevard when the crash occurred. The victim was traveling south on Capitol Boulevard in a 2005 Ford Focus at Tumwater Boulevard. Orr allegedly ran a red light and struck the victim’s vehicle. 

Orr’s vehicle came to rest on its top in the eastbound lanes of Tumwater Boulevard. The victim’s vehicle came to rest in the eastbound lanes of Tumwater Boulevard. The roadway was blocked for six hours and 26 minutes. 

The state patrol listed the cause of the crash as speed and failure to obey traffic signals. Both Orr and the victim were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash. Drugs or alcohol are not believed to have been factors in the crash, according to the state patrol. 

Orr was transported to Providence St. Peter Hospital for medical treatment. The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office described his injuries as being minor. He was later booked into the Thurston County Jail.