2 women from Tumwater died in Sunday morning south Thurston County wreck
Two women who were killed in a wrong-way crash have been identified, according to the Thurston County Coroner’s Office and Washington State Patrol.
About 5:30 a.m. Sunday, Valerie Thompson, 38, of Tumwater and Thunder OBrien, 28, of Tumwater, were driving north on Interstate 5 in the area of the Scatter Creek rest area in south Thurston County.
OBrien is also known as Amelia Garner.
Meanwhile, a still-unidentified male driver was driving south in the northbound lanes and crashed into them. A third vehicle, also headed north, then crashed into the car occupied by the two women.
Both women died as a result of multiple blunt force injuries, Coroner Gary Warnock said.
The male driver’s identification is still pending because his car caught fire, so the coroner’s office is seeking dental records to help identify him, Warnock said.
The driver of the third vehicle, a 21-year-old University Place woman, was not injured or impaired, Trooper John Dattilo previously told The Olympian.
She was allowed to leave the scene after providing information and a statement to the State Patrol, he said.
This story was originally published March 18, 2025 at 3:28 PM.
