Licensing Department investigating Toutle man who caused 2 recent car wrecks, 1 fatality

Thomas Charlson, a spokesman for the Washington Department of Licensing, said James Elov Axelson, 84, of Toutle still had a valid license as of Friday.

He said the department can’t say whether Axelson’s license will be revoked, but that his 30-day window to show he is medically healthy is nearing its deadline.

Axelson struck and killed a young mother June 13 in Longview and about a month later caused a crash on Interstate 5 near Carrolls on July 27, according to officials.

Despite accidents, pulling someone’s driver’s license requires evidence from agencies like law enforcement and medical providers to keep people off the road.

Axelson has not been charged with any crimes as a result of the accidents. After the crash in June, police suggested the licensing department reexamine it. After the crash in July, troopers suggested his driving was impaired by a medical condition.

Department of Licensing records show Axelson passed a visual inspection on July 11, as well as a department physical and vehicle evaluation on July 25. In the last test, he made “a few minor errors”, such as not looking over his shoulder when changing lanes. and failed to use a signal and was told to watch his speed, the report said.

Carrols accident happened two days later.

Three days after the accident, the department sent a letter to Axelson on July 30, stating that staff had been notified that he may have a condition that affects his ability to drive and asked him to undergo a medical examination by a provider to prevent getting a driver’s license. suspended.

Age is not a requirement for driver’s licenses to be suspended, Charlson said. Instead, the department looks for mental or physical health reasons to revoke someone’s license.

Axelson could not be reached for comment by The Daily News.

According to a report from the licensing department, Axelson’s Cadillac that caught fire on July 27 was purchased the same day as the crash, in which Axelson turned Matthew W. Carlson, 23, of Woodland, into the oncoming lanes. south along I-5, the Washington State Patrol reports.

Washington State Patrol Trooper Daniel Buckley checked the medical condition box on the accident report. He writes “I am concerned that this driver has one or more of the following which may affect their ability to drive safely.”

Buckley goes on to say that he asked Axelson what happened, but the driver had no recollection of the event. Once at the hospital, his fiance told authorities he couldn’t remember his name. Axelson told the officer he thought he was in California, the report said.

Washington State Patrol Trooper Will Finn said Axelson had a valid driver’s license at the time of the July 27 crash.

The tests Axelson underwent in July came after the crash that killed 20-year-old Emily Cox of Longview and injured another woman who was trapped inside the apartment he hit.

Longview Police Department spokesman Capt. Branden McNew said police recommended the Washington State Department of Licensing review Axelson’s driver’s license after the June wreck.

Axelson told The Daily News he believes he passed out while driving to the senior center for lunch just before the crash on Seventh Avenue.

Bud Bass, 79, of Clatskanie, makes regular trips to the Longview Senior Center on Commerce Avenue. He said he understands the difficulty of driving as people age.

He said that after his ex-wife was in a serious car accident, it “felt like she was in prison” and that she was becoming a burden having to rely on others for rides.

Axelson’s story of an elderly driver needing to reassess his driving skills is not unique to Cowlitz County, where the U.S. Census shows 20 percent of the population is 65 and older.

Shawn Kaber said he averages three students a week who are over 60 for driver’s license reinstatement at Cowlitz Driving School on 12th Ave in Longview. Reasons for removal include DUI, expired licenses or based on doctors recommendations.

“The novice driver and the senior (driver) all have the same exact tendency, they hesitate, they don’t know what to do,” Kabler said.

Data from the National Safety Council, a nonprofit service association, found that the number of motor vehicle deaths involving drivers and other road users who are 65 and older increased by 5 percent in 2022.

There were 7,870 fatal crashes involving drivers 65 and older that year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which is under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

But older drivers still want autonomy, Kaber added.

“All the old people want to do is be independent with their cars,” he said. “They only want to drive their cars (to) five places: to church, to the hairdresser, to the doctor’s office, to the pharmacy and to their favorite place.”

According to the Washington Department of Licensing website, several circumstances can result in a driver’s license being suspended or revoked. The license can be revoked if a driver is convicted of vehicular homicide, manslaughter, reckless driving, DUI, fuel theft or vehicular assault.

A driver can also have their driver’s license suspended if they fail to pay child support, commit fraud or violate probation.

Kaber, 58, said if his family asked him to hand over the keys because of his ability to drive, he would gladly do so.

“I’ll give it to them,” he said, “because I’ve seen all ends of the spectrum.”