A massive head-on collision in central Washington on Sunday, June 7th left two people dead and 12 other injured. The accident happened on US-97 near Entiat on the east side of the Columbia River.
Witnesses told members of the Washington State Patrol about a series of events and collisions that were started when a passenger van carrying nine people veered over into oncoming traffic. The van struck a Ford pickup truck, which was carrying a driver and passenger in their 70’s. The truck was towing a camper trailer. When the Ford truck was struck head-on, the camper detached and the truck overturned, where it then struck a GMC pickup towing a boat. The boat became detached from that vehicle. The GMC truck was occupied by a 72-year-old driver, and two passengers. All five occupants of both trucks were taken to Central Washington Hospital.
The 29-year-old driver of the van was pronounced dead at the scene, as was one of the van passengers. All seven other passengers were injured and transported to the hospital. The cause of the accident is still under investigation, as it is not known what caused the van to veer into oncoming traffic.
Any person injured in a car accident, especially one of this magnitude, should consult with an attorney as soon as possible to ensure all evidence is preserved. Where fatalities have occurred, an experienced attorney can determine if there may be a valid wrongful death claim, in addition to personal injury compensation.
