South Aberdeen woman killed in Park Street crash

By Dan Hammock • July 12, 2021 6:30 pm
Courtesy Aberdeen Police Department Orange paint on the concrete wall in front of the “Breaker” concrete monument on North Park Street shows where a vehicle struck before becoming airborne and rolling down the roadway, coming to rest more than 100 yards down the road. A 20-year-old South Aberdeen woman was killed in the early Saturday morning wreck.
Courtesy Aberdeen Police Department Orange paint on the concrete wall in front of the “Breaker” concrete monument on North Park Street shows where a vehicle struck before becoming airborne and rolling down the roadway, coming to rest more than 100 yards down the road. A 20-year-old South Aberdeen woman was killed in the early Saturday morning wreck.

A 20-year-old South Aberdeen woman was killed in a single-car rollover wreck on North Park Street in Aberdeen early Saturday morning.

The victim was identified Monday morning as Vanessa F. Torres-Oropeza by Grays Harbor County Coroner Robert Kegel.

The driver of the vehicle, a 24-year-old South Aberdeen woman — reportedly the sister of the victim — was arrested after the accident for vehicular homicide, said Aberdeen Police Lt. CJ Chastain.

Officers were called to the scene at 1:20 a.m. Saturday in the 400 block of North Park Street, where the roadway bends to the right at the site of the “Breaker” concrete monument on the east side of the roadway.

“Officers arrived on scene to find a white 2015 Toyota 4-Runner on its roof in the middle of the road (in the 500 block of North Park Street). There were multiple individuals in the road, trying to render aid to people from the vehicle,” said Chastain. “Officers were directed to a 20-year-old female who was on the ground north of the vehicle, in severe critical condition.”

Chastain said the 20-year-old was transported to Harbor Regional Health Community Hospital in Aberdeen, where she died. Also in the vehicle was another sister of the driver, a 17-year-old, and two children ages 5 and 2.

“Preliminary information indicates the vehicle was driving from a private party in Hoquiam, returning to the South Aberdeen residence of all occupants,” said Chastain. “As they drove eastbound on Simpson Avenue, the driver of a passenger car pulled up next to the 4-Runner, and indicated they wished to race.”

The 24-year-old 4-Runner driver reportedly accepted the challenge and began a street race with the other vehicle, and was traveling approximately 70 mph when the 4-Runner entered the sweeping right hand bend, where Simpson Avenue transitions to Park Street, said Chastain.

“The vehicle continued eastbound, striking the ‘Breaker’ concrete monument on the east side of the roadway, projecting the vehicle up onto the raised structure, and the vehicle rotated around (facing back northwest) as it continued south,” said Chastain. “The vehicle struck a tree at the south end of the monument, as it dropped back down to ground level, shearing off a stop sign/pole as it rotated partially back.”

As the vehicle struck the ground and began to roll, the 20-year-old passenger was ejected from the vehicle. The vehicle rolled some 345 feet, taking out another road sign before coming to rest on its roof, said Chastain.

“Speed and alcohol consumption appear to be contributing factors to the collision,” said Chastain.

He said the second vehicle “does not appear to be involved in the collision.” The roadway was blocked with a short detour in place until about 9:15 a.m.

The investigation is ongoing and involved the Hoquiam Police Department, Aberdeen Police collision investigation team, and Washington State Patrol.

As for the vehicle that reportedly initiated the street race, it was “possibly a yellow passenger car, possibly driven by a male, but we don’t have confirmation at the moment,” said Chastain. “We are seeking video from homes and businesses trying to piece together the timeline.”

Chastain emphasised the driver and any occupants of the second vehicle are not suspects in this event.

“We are looking to learn about the events that lead up to the collision,” said Chastain, and investigators simply would like to speak to them about what they may have observed at the time of the incident.