According to the investigators, Rafael D. Aquino, 50, of Connell, was driving a semi-truck eastbound on Highway 260 when he tried to make a turn onto Dilling Road and collided head-on with a westbound Volkswagen Jetta
Connell, WA – A crash involving a semi-truck left a teenage driver injured on Tuesday evening nearly three miles west of Connell, according to the Washington State Patrol.
The wreck took place on Highway 260 at Dilling Road east of Highway 17 at around 4:50 p.m. January 20.
According to the investigators, Rafael D. Aquino, 50, of Connell, was driving a semi-truck eastbound on Highway 260 when he tried to make a turn onto Dilling Road and collided head-on with a westbound Volkswagen Jetta.
The Washington State Patrol troopers and firefighters helped extricate the driver trapped in the Volkswagen.
The driver, identified as Keyla Cruz Saavedra, 17, of Connell, was transported to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland with unspecified injuries.
Aquino was cited for failure to yield to the right of way, according to the WSP.
Both directions of Highway 260 were shut down for nearly four hours as authorities investigated the crash and crews performed cleanup. All lanes were reopened just before 9 p.m.
The cause of the accident remains under investigation by the Washington State Patrol.
Fatalities due to traffic colisions in Franklin County avaraged 8 in the years between 2021 and 2023. The numbers have been constantly increasing yearly until the peak in 2023, when the county recorded 11 fatalities. Most fatal accidents occurred on state routes, especially US 395, which is regarded as the deadliest in Franklin County. This has majorly been attributed to numerous curved sections and high traffic volume that cause drivers to drift into oncoming lanes. According to the Washington State Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) data, state routes contributed to 28% of the fatalities recorded statewide in 2023. Other driver errors including speed, distracted driving, and drinking under the influence also continue to play a key role in these accidents, stressing the need for more sensitization to ensure drivers adhere to the set laws and keep road users safe.
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