The incident occurred at about 5:15 p.m. on Sunday, May 17, 2026, on State Route 821 about 12 miles south of Ellensburg in the Yakima Canyon.
Kittitas County, WA – One person was killed and another suffered life-threatening injuries following a head-on collision on State Route 821 in Kittitas County Sunday afternoon, according to the Washington State Patrol.
The fatal crash occurred at approximately 5:15 p.m. on Sunday, May 17, 2026, on State Route 821 about 12 miles south of Ellensburg in the Yakima Canyon.
Preliminary investigation findings indicate that a sedan driven by 21-year-old Angel Barragan of Yakima was traveling along SR-821 when it reportedly failed to negotiate a curve and collided with an oncoming pickup truck driven by 50-year-old Forest McCullough of Hoodsport.
Barragan sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger in the sedan, identified as 19-year-old Tisiana Gonzales of Yakima, suffered life-threatening injuries and was airlifted to Kadlec Medical Center in Richland for treatment. Authorities said McCullough and his passenger, 34-year-old Janelle Petersen of Hoodsport, were not injured in the collision.
Investigators said intoxicants were not believed to be factors in the crash. The exact cause of the collision remains under investigation by the Washington State Patrol.
Washington State Patrol troopers and emergency responders responded to the scene to assist victims and conduct the on-scene investigation.
The collision caused major traffic disruptions along State Route 821, with the highway remaining blocked until approximately 10 p.m. while crews investigated and cleared the wreckage.
The fatal Kittitas County crash remains under investigation by the Washington State Patrol.