Chehalis woke up to heartbreak Tuesday after Cameron J. Dimond, 33, lost his life in a violent crash along State Route 6 near Littell. The quiet stretch of highway became a scene of flashing lights and shattered metal just before sunrise, cutting short a life many say mattered deeply to the community.
State troopers say the collision happened around 5:47 a.m., near milepost 48, west of Chehalis. Dimond was driving eastbound in a 2020 Ford Transit van, heading into the early hours of an ordinary day that never had the chance to unfold.
Investigators report that as Dimond attempted to make a left turn onto Stearns Road, his van crossed into the path of an oncoming westbound vehicle. A 2012 Ford F-350 pickup slammed into the van, triggering a devastating head-on crash that left both vehicles destroyed.
Dimond was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities confirmed he was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the impact, a detail that adds another painful layer to an already tragic morning.
The pickup driver, identified as 37-year-old Daniel J. Nederlander of Onalaska, was wearing a seat belt. He survived the crash and was taken to Providence Centralia Hospital, where he was treated for minor injuries.
The wreck shut down State Route 6 for several hours as emergency crews worked the scene and investigators documented the aftermath. Traffic backed up as drivers were forced to wait or reroute, a stark reminder of how suddenly life — and routine — can be disrupted.
The Washington State Patrol listed failure to yield as the cause of the crash. Troopers said it remains unclear whether drugs or alcohol played any role. The investigation is still open as authorities work to complete their findings.
Beyond the official reports and traffic delays, the real weight of the loss is being felt in homes across Chehalis. Friends and family describe Cameron Dimond as someone who belonged here — someone whose absence is already loud in its silence. In a town that values its own, his death leaves a space that cannot easily be filled.
