Driver in wrong-way fatality identified

The woman who drove the wrong-way on state Highway 14 late Saturday afternoon and died in a head-on collision was Sheila Marie Walls, 29, a Columbia Helicopters employee, officials said today.

She had left a memorial service for the company’s founder, Wes Lematta, at the Vancouver Washington Hilton.

Dan Sweet of Columbia Helicopters said Walls of Estacada was a records control clerk in the company’s Quality Department.

Trooper Dave Bourland of the Washington State Patrol said the accident happened in the westbound lane of the highway near the Portco tunnel, about 2.2 miles east of downtown. The accident happened at 4:35 p.m.

Bourland said it’s possible Walls took the C Street ramp that carries westbound cars into downtown.

“We didn’t have anybody see her, but we do know that a semi driver did observe her coming on from that city center ramp,” Trooper Dave Bourland.

Bourland said he is talking to witnesses and the investigation continues. He said he had no indication if alcohol was involved.

Meanwhile, two Camas residents injured in the five-car collision remained in Southwest Washington Medical Center this afternoon.

Brian J. Gonsalves, 33, was listed in satisfactory condition with a fractured right ankle. His passenger, Elizabeth M. Gonsalves, 32, was in serious condition with a fractured neck, spine, and left wrist, as well as abdominal injuries, according to the WSP.

Wells’ 1991 Honda first collided with a 2008 Volkswagen driven by Krystal McLaughlin, 30, of Portland. McLaughlin swerved to try to avoid a crash but was struck in the left rear quarter panel. McLaughlin was not injured.

Next, Kyle Talley, 23, of West Hills, Calif., swerved the 2005 Jeep he was driving and was able to avoid being hit by the Honda but was forced off the roadway. Talley was not injured, according to the WSP Trooper Steve Schatzel.

The Honda continued east and crashed head-on into a 2004 Acura driven Brian Gonsalves. At nearly the same time as the Honda hit Gonsalves’ Acura, the Honda struck a 2003 Oldsmobile driven by Laissa Afterbuffalo, 20, of Vancouver. Afterbuffalo swerved to the right and was sideswiped by the oncoming Honda. Neither Afterbuffalo nor her passenger, Kyle Bell, 21, of Vancouver, were injured.

The Vancouver Police Department and Vancouver Fire Department assisted the Washington State Patrol at the scene of this collision, which closed lanes for several hours.

Mike Fahey, president of Columbia Helicopters, issued this statement this afternoon: “We are greatly saddened by the tragic loss of one of our employees while we are still mourning the loss of our company founder, Wes Lematta. Sheila Walls was also a member of our extended family, and we will now mourn her loss as well. We wish to extend our deepest condolences to her family. They will join the Lematta family in our thoughts and prayers.”