Boy, 2, killed in off-road crash; driver arrested
CENTRALIA, Wash. - A 2-year-old boy was killed Saturday night in an off-road vehicle accident near Centralia, and the driver has been arrested for investigation of vehicular homicide.
The Washington State Patrol reports that the driver, 41-year-old Benjamin E. Jones, also is under investigation for three counts of child endangerment.
Troopers say Jones was drunk Saturday night when he lost control of a 1987 Suzuki Samurai that he was driving off-road on muddy trails in a grassy field adjacent to Big Hanaford Road.
According to the State Patrol, the sport utility vehicle slid down an embankment just after 7 p.m. and landed on its top in Big Hanaford Creek. Jones and four young passengers were thrown from the vehicle. Troopers say none was wearing a seat belt.
Three of the youngsters survived, but the 2-year-old boy was missing.
About an hour later, a State Patrol aircraft with special gear detected a heat source about a quarter-mile downstream in the creek. Officers raced to the scene and pulled the boy from the water.
He was airlifted to Mary Bridge Hospital and pronounced dead at 10:45 p.m.
Two of the other youngsters - a 16-year-old girl and a 6-year-old boy - sustained minor injuries in the crash, and were treated at the scene. A 4-year-old girl was unhurt.
Jones was uninjured in the crash. He was arrested and booked into jail.
The Washington State Patrol reports that the driver, 41-year-old Benjamin E. Jones, also is under investigation for three counts of child endangerment.
Troopers say Jones was drunk Saturday night when he lost control of a 1987 Suzuki Samurai that he was driving off-road on muddy trails in a grassy field adjacent to Big Hanaford Road.
According to the State Patrol, the sport utility vehicle slid down an embankment just after 7 p.m. and landed on its top in Big Hanaford Creek. Jones and four young passengers were thrown from the vehicle. Troopers say none was wearing a seat belt.
Three of the youngsters survived, but the 2-year-old boy was missing.
About an hour later, a State Patrol aircraft with special gear detected a heat source about a quarter-mile downstream in the creek. Officers raced to the scene and pulled the boy from the water.
He was airlifted to Mary Bridge Hospital and pronounced dead at 10:45 p.m.
Two of the other youngsters - a 16-year-old girl and a 6-year-old boy - sustained minor injuries in the crash, and were treated at the scene. A 4-year-old girl was unhurt.
Jones was uninjured in the crash. He was arrested and booked into jail.