Woman killed in crash near Shelton identified

The Mason County Coroner has identified the woman killed in a crash early Tuesday on East Mikkelsen Road as Terra Kathleen Dittmer, 38, of Shelton.

Dittmer died at the scene and three other people were injured when the car they were in went off the road and crashed into a tree shortly after midnight.

One man was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Two other men were also injured.

Deputies are still investigating the crash and an autopsy has been scheduled.

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Woman killed when car slams into tree near Shelton

SHELTON, Wash. -- One person was killed and three other people were injured when the car they were in went off the road and crashed into a tree early Tuesday.

Mason County sheriff's Detective William Adam said the crash happened just after midnight in the 400 block of East Mikkelsen Road north of Shelton.

A woman who was in the car died at the scene and a man was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Two other men were also injured.

Deputies are still investigating the crash and it was not clear what caused the driver to run off the road.

The name of the woman who was killed has not been released.

Shelton man killed in crash near McCleary

A motorcyclist was killed Sunday afternoon when he plowed head-on into an oncoming SUV near McCleary in Grays Harbor County, the Washington State Patrol reported.

State troopers responded to the scene, on Highway 108 about two miles east of McCleary, at about 1:30 p.m. Sunday after receiving a report of a crash.

The motorcyclist, later identified as Barry Lee Morris, 53, of Shelton was pronounced dead at the scene. He was wearing a helmet.

An investigation found that Morris was heading west on the winding, two-lane highway on a 1978 Honda GL1000 when he crossed the double-yellow center line and slammed head-on into an approaching 2005 Ford Excursion.

The driver of the Excursion, a 44-year-old Shelton man, was not hurt - but the SUV was totaled.

No charges will be filed.

Mother's Day means more sun, continues through start of work week

Mother's Day means more sun, continues through start of work week

Happy Mother's Day! 

We are in for some wonderful weather for getting outside. 

Plan on sunny skies today with highs in the mid-70s to low-80s in many spots.  The warmest areas will be in the south Sound.

The strong ridge of high pressure will stay locked in for Monday with highs rising a few degrees.

Even Tuesday is looking mostly sunny with a few high clouds toward the end of the day.  It isn't until late Wednesday that the ridge breaks down enough to allow a stronger onshore flow to bring us more clouds and cooler temps.  By Thursday morning we could even have some areas of mist.

Theron Zahn
The KOMO4 Forecast Team

Missing hiker found after 6 days in Olympic Mountains

SHELTON, Wash. - A hiker missing since Monday in the Olympic National Park was rescued Saturday morning after a search helicopter spotted him.

David Snider, 55, of Union was dehydrated, slightly hypothermic and tired, but otherwise appeared in good condition when rescuers reached him, said Olympic National Park spokesperson Rainey McKenna.

He was found at about midnight Friday when a search helicopter crew spotted a light source in a natural drainage near the Irely Lake Loop trail. About a half-hour later, Snider was located by the chopper's infrared camera.

A second King County Sheriff's Office helicopter with a hoist was brought in at first light Saturday to lift Snider from the drainage.

Snider originally had planned a day hike on the Irely Lake trail, setting off Monday morning and expecting to return that evening. He was reported overdue on Wednesday morning when he didn't report to work.

He later told rescuers that he reached Three Lakes at 9 p.m. Monday and attempted to loop back to the trailhead via a shortcut. But deep snow on the ridges and steep terrain in the drainage trapped him near the creek.

Search on for missing hiker from Union

A ground search is underway for man who hasn't returned after leaving for day hike in Olympic National Park on Monday.

On Wednesday officials from Olympic National reported David Snidder, 55, of Union, was overdue from a planned day hike on Irely Lake Loop Trail.

Snidder's car was found at the North Fork Campground the same day when an initial “hasty” search began, according to a park news release.

Clues, believed to be left by Snidder, were found by a ground search team on Thursday afternoon.

Friday's search is focused on the Irely Lake and Reflection Lake area and includes 16 ground searchers, including 8 technical rescue team members from Olympic Mountain Rescue, along with a German Shepherd Search Dog with its handler from Pierce County and a helicopter.

Snidder is described as a capable hiker with previous experience in mountainous and snowy terrain. Officials believe he is traveling with a day pack and basic essentials.

 

Man missing for a year turns up at casino

Man missing for a year turns up at casino

The Mason County Sheriff's Office has found a Tahuya resident who was reported missing more than a year ago.

Hans Ulrich Santman, 44, was recognized by friends at the Tulalip Casino earlier this week.

Tulalip Casino Security and the Tulalip Police kept watch and eventually contacted Santman when he returned to the casino.

Santman didn't give a reason to police for leaving his family and friends.

He was originally reported missing on May 1, 2011, when he was last seen at the Clearwater Casino in Suquamish.

He has been removed as a missing person from the national search database.