Posted Monday, January 2, 2012 --- 6:30 a.m.

Statement from the Columbia County Sheriff's Department:

On Monday, January 2, 2012 at approximately 12:29 AM, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Department received a 911 call advising of a one vehicle accident on Highway 60 near Lodi.

Deputies responded and located a 2005 Chevy Cavalier in the ditch of Highway 60 near the intersection of Gluth Road. It appears the vehicle was eastbound on Highway 60 where it left the roadway, went airborne, enter the ditch and overturned, landing on the passenger side. The driver and only occupant of the vehicle was unresponsive at that time. Medflight was called to the scene where the physician onboard Medflight pronounced the driver deceased.

The driver was not wearing a seatbelt.

The accident remains under investigation. It is undetermined if speed and/or alcohol were factors.

The name of the deceased is being withheld pending notification of family.

The Columbia County Sheriff’s Department was assisted by Lodi EMS, Lodi Fire Department, Lodi Shell, UW Medflight and the Columbia County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Sheriff Dennis Richards
Columbia County Sheriff’s Office