Two die in Tuesday collision

Two people are dead and another person is hospitalized following a collision at 9:06 a.m. Tuesday, September 23, on SR 4 near Mill Creek.

As of Tuesday evening, the Washington State Patrol hadn't yet been able to notify family members of the deceased persons, and their identities haven't been announced.

They were the driver and passenger of a 2000 Subaru Forester driven eastbound. According to the state patrol, their vehicle was passing another eastbound vehicle in a no passing zone at Milepost 46.7 when it collided head on with a 2005 Ford Ranger pickup headed westbound.

The Forester caught on fire and was engulfed in flames. Both vehicles were total losses.

Russell D. Gilchrist, 67, Longview, was the driver of the Ranger pickup. He was airlifted by LifeFlight to Peace Health Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver for treatment of injuries. He was wearing a seatbelt,