A Sunday night crash near the Interstate 5 and State Route 505 interchange left a Winlock woman injured after a driver failed to stop at a stop sign.
Patricia A. Joehnk, 40, was taken to Providence Centralia Hospital following the crash at approximately 8:05 p.m.
According to the Washington State Patrol, Elijah J. Cooper, 28, of Centralia, was heading southbound on I-5 when he took the exit for SR-505. Joehnk was traveling north on the same route when Cooper failed to stop and drove into her vehicle.
A 15-year-old passenger in Joehnk’s car was not hurt. Both Joehnk and the teen were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.
Cooper, however, was not wearing a seat belt — a fact that is expected to add to the charges he may face.
Potential charges against Cooper
- Second-degree negligent driving
- Operating a vehicle without insurance
- Seat belt violation
The crash serves as a reminder of how a single moment of negligence at an intersection can change lives — and why seat belts remain one of the most important safety tools on the road.
