Woodland teen dead after collision on Highway 502

A 17-year-old Woodland girl died after a two-car collision Friday afternoon on state Highway 502 west of Battle Ground. Ryan L. Matison, 20, of Battle Ground was driving his 1994 Toyota Corolla SW south on Northeast 29th Avenue about 2:40 p.m. when he failed to stop at a flashing stop light and turned onto Highway 502. The Corolla collided with a 2006 Chevrolet pickup driven by Luke W. Merriman, 23, of Battle Ground, that was traveling east on 502 approaching 29th Avenue, the memo said. Both cars went off the road, said Trooper Will Finn, spokesman for the Washington State Patrol. The 17-year-old girl, whose name was not released, was a passenger in the Matison’s Corolla. She died at the scene. Matison and Merriman were both transported to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center. Speed was the cause of the collision, Finn said. Possible charges are still under investigation. Drugs and alcohol did not appear to be a factor in the crash.

What money damages are recoverable in a death claim? Every death from an accident is tragic. When a death is the result of someone else’s negligence, certain survivors may make a wrongful death claim against those responsible. Close relatives may recover monetary damages for the loss of financial support, as well as for medical, funeral, and burial expenses, lost earnings, and in some cases for pain, suffering, and loss of love and affection. Learn more about wrongful death claims here…