Rochester man killed in south Thurston crash Monday identified

Thurston County Coroner’s Office has identified the Rochester man who died Monday night in a crash in south Thurston County as James A. Saccotelli.

About 9:15 p.m. Monday, Saccotelli was driving south on Moon Road Southwest when he turned left onto eastbound U.S. 12, according to Washington State Patrol. A second vehicle that was headed west on the same highway crashed into the driver’s side of Saccotelli’s vehicle.

He died at the scene, according to State Patrol, and the 52-year-old Oakville man driving the second vehicle was injured and taken to Providence Centralia Hospital.

Saccotelli, 67, died of blunt force trauma to the head, torso, and extremities, Thurston County Coroner Gary Warnock told The Olympian.

State Patrol did not have any updates to share on the investigation into the crash as of Wednesday at noon.

This story was originally published March 11, 2020 at 12:50 PM.

Sara Gentzler

The Olympian

360-754-5459

Sara Gentzler joined The Olympian in June 2019 as a county and courts reporter. She now covers Washington state government for The Olympian, The News Tribune, The Bellingham Herald, and Tri-City Herald. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Creighton University.