Sirens: Police determine collision resulting in death not homicide

Following an investigation, local law enforcement concluded the collision that took place in the 9900 block of Bridge Road Southeast in Yelm around 11 a.m. on March 9 and killed a 27-year-old woman was not a homicide.

A 911 caller reported multiple vehicles were involved and that the at-fault vehicle fled the scene.

After an investigation from Yelm Police and the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO)that included subsequent interviews and security camera footage, analysis suggested the deceased driver was traveling at a higher speed than the other vehicles, resulting in the collision and the driver veering off road. Vehicle evidence corroborated this sequence of events, according to a TCSO press release. The victim was identified by the Thurston County Coroner as Destiney Fortin.

The individual initially suspected of fleeing the scene was located, interviewed and cleared of being involved in or causing the collision, the release stated. No charges will be brought forth to the prosecutor’s office regarding the collision.

In other public safety news:

One arrested in shooting off Yelm Highway

One person was arrested in a shooting in the 9400 block of Yelm Highway Southeast in Olympia after 9 p.m. on Saturday, March 23. Gunshots were fired at the windshield and rear passenger door panel of a vehicle. No injuries were
reported.

According to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office, there was no active threat to the community that evening.

Two injured in military helicopter crash

A military helicopter crashed off of Rainier Road and Stedman Road at 9:30 p.m. on Monday, March 25. According to information provided to KIRO 7 News staff by officials with the U.S. Army 7th Infantry Division, a helicopter and crew assigned to the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade at Joint Base Lewis-McChord had an “aviation mishap” during a routine training exercise in a military training area in Thurston County.

KIRO 7 also reported that the two crew onboard were sent to Madigan Army Medical Center at JBLM for treatment. As of early Tuesday, March 26, there was military police activity and a roadblock near the area, per KIRO 7 reports. The crash, which also caused a temporary brush fire in the area, is still under investigation.

The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office, which initially responded to the crash site, was unable to confirm the extent of the injuries and the cause of the crash as JBLM police and fire crews handled the incident.