Two Fatal Crashes in Washington’s Yakima Valley Under Investigation

Two fatal crashes reported on Sunday are under investigation by the Washington State Patrol.

A PEDESTRIAN CRASH IN WHICH A MAN WAS KILLED

Troopers say the first crash was reported at about 2:30 pm Sunday when a man was struck and killed by a semi-truck on I-82 in Yakima. They say the truck was eastbound on I-82 near the Yakima Avenue exit when the man was struck in the road. He died at the scene. The 33-year-old semi truck driver was not injured or cited. No names have been released.

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A TWO VEHICLE CRASH TAKES TWO LIVES

Hours later on Sunday evening two people were killed in a crash in Mabton.
Troopers say the crash was reported at about 7:45 pm Sunday.
They say a 60-year-old man was driving eastbound on SR22 within Mabton city limits when he tried to make a left turn but failed to yield the right of way and crashed into a westbound vehicle driven by a 32-year-old man. The 60-year-old was killed in the crash the other 32-year-old driver was injured and taken to a Richland hospital. But a 48-year-old passenger in his vehicle died at the scene. No identities were released. The crash remains under investigation.

PUT DOWN THE PHONE AND DRIVE

Authorities urge drivers to put down the phone and drive because this is distracted driving month. Authorities say distracted driving leads to many crashes in the Yakima valley during the spring and summer months with phones being the number one destraction along with texting, eating, changing music and personal hygiene.
Special emphasis patrols are underway in the city, county and state looking for distracted drivers.