A death investigation is underway for a 44-year-old Centralia man who was struck by a vehicle in Thurston County early Tuesday after he got out of another vehicle.
The Thurston County Coroner’s Office has not yet determined whether the man died before or after he was struck by the vehicle.
The coroner’s office began its medical exam on Tuesday.
The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident.
The man, whose name has not been released pending notification of his next of kin, was reportedly working a delivery route on Moon Road, just north of U.S. Highway 12 and west of Grand Mound, with another man shortly after midnight on Tuesday, April 21.
The decedent was the passenger in the vehicle.
He reportedly became “unruly” while they were driving, and the driver dropped him off in the middle of the road and drove off, according to information from the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office that was originally reported by The Olympian.
As the driver resumed his delivery route, he reportedly saw his former passenger lying down in the middle of the road.
He also saw another vehicle approaching on the same road.
He reportedly tried to warn the other driver, identified as a woman in her 60s, by flashing his high-beams at her. She flashed her high beams back at him, but struck the man lying in the road.
The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office and Thurston County Coroner’s Office confirmed Tuesday night that the incident was still under investigation.
