Motorcyclist dies in Highway 12 crash, WSP says

The Washington State Patrol is investigating a fatal crash Wednesday morning on U.S. Highway 12 in Rochester.

The crash, which happened at Denmark Street Southwest shortly after 6 a.m., involved a car and a motorcycle.

The motorcyclist died at the scene. He was later identified as Joseph L. Lambert, 58, of Rochester by the Thurston County Coroner’s Office.

The other driver, an 80-year-old woman from Olympia, was not injured.

According to State Patrol, the woman was driving west on Highway 12 and turning left onto Denmark Street as the motorcyclist was coming toward her eastbound on Highway 12. The cause of the crash was failure to yield.

WSDOT says Highway 12 was blocked in both directions but reopened about 9 a.m.

This story was originally published May 1, 2019 at 9:22 AM.