Coroner IDs woman killed after car crashed into Thurston County apartments
A woman who died after a pick-up truck crashed into several vehicles and an apartment building on Wednesday has been identified as 63-year-old Elke Howard, of Lacey.
Thurston County Coroner Gary Warnock said Thursday that Howard was a resident of the Reserve at Lacey, the 55-and-older apartment complex where the wreck occurred. He said her cause and manner of death are still pending.
The Lacey Police Department posted an update on social media May 28 regarding the wreck. According to the post, officers were dispatched at 3:26 p.m. on May 27 to a wreck at the intersection of Pacific Avenue Southeast and Carpenter Road Southeast. Several vehicles were involved, and one vehicle had crashed into a building at the intersection.
According to the post, a suspected impaired driver hit a vehicle in a convenience store parking lot on Pacific Avenue and attempted to flee. In that attempt, the driver hit two other cars and then drove into one of the buildings at the Reserve at Lacey, the post said. The driver hit Howard, who was standing on the sidewalk outside the building, the post said.
Aid was rendered on scene, according to the post, but she did not survive. Two other people and the suspect were taken to the hospital with minor injuries, according to the post.
The suspect allegedly admitted to drinking alcohol earlier in the day, and he had his 8-year-old son in the vehicle, according to the post. The child was not hurt.
According to the post, the suspect was booked into the Thurston County Jail after being cleared at the hospital on suspicion of hit and run, reckless endangerment and vehicular homicide.
“With summer beginning and graduation season upon us, it is a harsh reminder of the consequences of driving impaired,” the Lacey Police Department said. “Many lives were impacted yesterday by one event that happened in a matter of seconds. Please, do not drive under the influence. We want you and your loved ones to make it home safe.”
Staff writer Martín Bilbao contributed to this report.
This story was originally published May 28, 2026 at 5:03 PM.
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