CENTRALIA — A utility vehicle crash Friday morning claimed the life of a 57-year-old Centralia man in the 29-thousand block of Sycamore Road in rural Centralia.
According to the Washington County Coroner’s Office, Anthony Watkins was declared dead at the scene.

Coroner Mark Styninger said it appeared Watkins was an unrestrained driver of the UTV and was trying to capture a pony that had escaped its enclosure.

Watkins was reportedly traveling at a high rate of speed when the vehicle flipped, ejected Watkins and then rolled over him. Watkins was the vehicle’s only occupant.

According to Styninger, the cause of death appears to be blunt force trauma, and manner of death is accidental.

The crash remains under investigation by the Washington County Sheriff’s Department and the Washington County Coroner’s Office.