The man was identified Wednesday morning as Jerome Buckmeier, 70, of Fairbanks, Alaska, according to Thurston County Coroner Gary Warnock. Buckmeier was in Washington visiting his daughter who lives in military housing on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Warnock said.
Buckmeier was driving a 2002 Ford Escape north on Reservation Road Southeast near 25th Avenue at 11:22 p.m. when he went off the road to the right and hit a tree, according to the Washington State Patrol.
The vehicle rolled and came to rest on its side on the shoulder. Buckmeier was pronounced dead at the scene.
“Troopers at the collision scene believe it could be a medical incident; however, the driver’s cause of death will be determined by the Thurston County Coroner’s Office,” said Trooper Guy Gill.
An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday morning, Warnock said.
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