Coroner identifies woman killed by train

Also, woman found in vehicle in Lacey car lot identified

The Olympian • Published August 28, 2008

Thurston County Coroner Gary Warnock identified the woman who died after being struck by a train Friday as Erin Marie Ames, 31, of Olympia.

Her cause of death was multiple blunt-force injuries, and the manner of her death was a suicide, Warnock said.

Ames was struck by a freight train in the Hawks Prairie area near state Route 510 shortly before noon Friday.

The name on identification found at the scene was similar to that of a missing person from Olympia who had made threats to commit suicide by train, Thurston County Chief Criminal Deputy James Chamberlain said.

Another woman who was found dead locally Friday was identified as Kathleen L. Piel, 57, of Rainier. Piel was found dead in a car in the Denny's parking lot in Lacey on Friday afternoon.

Her cause and manner of death are pending toxicology and autopsy reports, Warnock said.