WSP detectives seek additional witnesses to fatal crash on I-5 near Castle Rock

The Washington State Patrol is seeking additional witnesses to a fatal crash Saturday along northbound Interstate 5 near Castle Rock. Three people were killed and two others were seriously injured in the multi-vehicle crash.

Troopers responded about 7:50 a.m. to Milepost 45. The initial investigation found that a tow truck and a 2013 Kia Sorento were parked on the right shoulder of the freeway. The tow truck driver, identified as Arthur E. Anderson, was loading a vehicle onto his truck when a blue 2011 BMW 3-Series struck the back of the Kia, pushing it into the tow truck.

Anderson, 63, of Longview and Battle Ground residents Richard H. Stoker, 55, and Karen C. Stoker, 54, who were in the Kia, were killed, according to the State Patrol.

The couple’s son, 25-year-old Travis H. Stoker, had called for a tow for his car, and his parents came to pick him up. He was seated in the Kia when it was struck and suffered internal injuries, his sister said on a fundraising page for the family.

He remains in serious condition at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver, according to a hospital spokesman.

The driver accused of causing the crash, identified as 43-year-old Anna-Christie Ireland of Longview, is believed to have been under the influence, troopers said. She faces three counts of vehicular homicide, according to the State Patrol.

She was also injured and taken to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center for treatment. She remained there Tuesday morning, according to WSP spokesman Will Finn. Her condition was unavailable.

State Patrol detectives are examining what precipitated the crash, the agency said in a news release Tuesday. Anyone who has information about it should contact Detective Evan Clark at evan.clark@wsp.wa.gov or at 360-688-3408.