Thurston County man faces possible felony charges after fatal Interstate 5 crash

A Lacey man faces potential vehicular homicide charges following a fatal two-car collision on Interstate 5 Friday, according to the Washington State Patrol (WSP).

Steven L. Hargis, 50, of Forest Grove, Oregon, died at the scene.

According to WSP, Oscar A. Herrera Rodriguez, 21, of Lacey, was driving a 2019 Ford Mustang southbound near milepost 110 at about 11:50 p.m. when he struck the back of a 2023 Mazda CX-9 driven by Hargis.

The collision caused the CX-9 to roll on its passenger side before it left the road to the right and came to rest in the trees.

The Mustang came to rest on the right shoulder of the road, troopers said.

Hargis' passenger, Scarlett O. Hargis, 20, of Forest Grove, Oregon, was transported to Providence St. Peter Hospital with undisclosed injuries following the incident.

Neither Herrera Rodriguez nor his two passengers - Carlos E. Cabrices Ruiz, 18, of Olympia, and a 15-year-old male from Lacey - were injured in the incident.

All individuals were reportedly wearing seat belts at the time of the collision. Law enforcement booked Herrera Rodriguez into the Thurston County Jail following the incident.

WSP in a press memo said the cause of the collision was "speed" and indicated no drugs or alcohol had been involved.

Troopers listed Herrera Rodriguez's potential charges as vehicular homicide and vehicular assault.

According to court records, Herrera Rodriguez was scheduled to make a preliminary appearance in Thurston County Superior Court on Monday.

Charges had not been filed as of Monday morning.

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