The driver who died in a head-on collision with a dump truck in Tenino on May 18 has been identified as 75 year-old James “Jim” Emerson of Rochester.
His cause of death was due to multiple blunt force injuries and the manner of death was determined to be an accident, according to Thurston County Coroner Gary Warnock.
Emerson was driving a sedan the wrong way in the dump truck’s southbound lane on Old Highway 99 SE when the crash occurred at around 10:20 a.m. on May 18.
Upon arrival, responding agencies observed both vehicles dealing with significant damage and heavy fire involvement.
“Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the individual who lost their life in this incident,” South Thurston Fire wrote in a news release.
The driver of the dump truck, whose name has not been released by the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office, was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment.
