Justine Enriquez Injured in Spirit Lake Highway Incident – Longview, WA, January 24, 2026

In Longview, Washington, on January 24, 2026, Cowlitz County Deputy Coroner Justine Enriquez sustained a broken femur after being struck by a pickup truck at a closed crash scene on Spirit Lake Highway near Castle Rock. Enriquez had been responding to a separate fatal accident involving a 21-year-old victim from the previous evening. The alleged driver, 43-year-old Michael Sturgill, reportedly drove at high speed through the closure, colliding with Enriquez and three emergency vehicles. Sturgill faces charges including vehicular assault and ten counts of reckless endangerment and remains in custody with bail set at $50,000.

Enriquez, who had joined the coroner’s office as casual help in August 2025 after completing a reserve program in June, underwent surgery over the weekend and is expected to make a full recovery. Coroner Dana Tucker described the incident as potentially catastrophic but praised the emergency response and emphasized that no additional fatalities occurred. Chief Deputy Coroner Christie Masters provided continuous support during Enriquez’s treatment, underscoring the office’s close-knit working environment. Enriquez’s colleagues anticipate her eventual return, noting her presence as both professionally valuable and personally uplifting within the team.