Ridgefield man killed in single-vehicle accident

A 19-year-old Ridgefield man died Thursday in a single-vehicle accident on state Highway 503 in Cowlitz County, according to the Washington State Patrol.

Jeremy R. Schmidt was thrown from the vehicle in the 3:45 p.m. accident near Milepost 44, about nine miles east of Woodland, and pronounced dead at the scene.

Schmidt's passenger, Jayson E. Caughman, 19, of Vancouver suffered a neck injury and was taken by a Life Flight helicopter to Southwest Washington Medical Center. Schmidt. Caughman was listed in satisfactory condition late Thursday.

A WSP bulletin said Schmidt was driving his 1987 Toyota Tercel south on Highway 503 at a high rate of speed when the car's right rear tire blew out. The car swerved left, hit an embankment and overturned, ejecting Schmidt.