Lakewood man who died following Friday afternoon crash has been identified
A Lakewood man who died following a two-vehicle wreck near Mason County Friday afternoon has been identified, according to the Washington State Patrol.
About 3:40 p.m., Christopher R. Rankin, 25, was headed east on state Route 302 near Mason County. Troopers say he crossed the center line and crashed into a westbound driver from Salem, Oregon.
Both drivers were injured and taken to area hospitals. Rankin later died at St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma.
According to State Patrol, Rankin was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.
The 46-year-old woman from Salem was injured and taken to St. Anthony Hospital in Gig Harbor, according to State Patrol.
The cause of the crash is under investigation. Alcohol or drugs were not a factor in the wreck, according to State Patrol.
Following the collision, SR 302 was blocked for about four hours, troopers say.
This story was originally published December 7, 2025 at 11:42 AM.
