4 hurt in crash south of Chehalis

Four people, three from Vancouver, were hospitalized following a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 5 south of Chehalis Saturday afternoon.

According to the Washington State Patrol, Portland’s Javier A. Espinoza, 36, and Vancouver’s Brandon L. Walton, 43, were both heading north on about 16 miles south of Chehalis.

Around 1:30 p.m, Walton slowed down for traffic, the state patrol said, but Espinozawho was behind him, couldn’t stop in time. His car struck a road barrier on the left and the rear of Walton’s pickup.

Walton and two passengers, 40-year-old Jamie L. Walton and 51-year-old Tyrone D. Green, both of Vancouver, were hurt and taken to Providence Centralia Hospital.

A passenger in Espinoza’s car, Portland’s Lynn R. Kneeland, 42, was also hurt and hospitalized.

Their statuses were unavailable. Espinoza was not injured, the state patrol said.

Troopers cited him for following too closely.