April 24, 2008

Collision kills two, injures three

A three-vehicle collision last Friday on Highway 26 two miles west of Washtucna claimed the lives of two western Washington residents.

Westbound traffic was detoured to Thiel Road while eastbound traffic was turned around. The roadway was cleared before 9 p.m. that night.

Around 1:44 p.m., a 1994 Dodge Caravan driven by Matthew Andresen of Redmond crossed the center line, striking a 2006 Ford truck driven by Mark Lawson of Soap Lake. A third vehicle, driven by Michael Turner of Soap Lake, swerved to miss the Caravan and struck the Ford truck.

The cause of the accident is under investigation and no charges were filed.

Andreson, 56, died at the scene. He was wearing a seatbelt. The vehicle was totaled and impounded to Adam’s Automotive.

One of the passengers, Taryn Gillies of Bellevue, also died at the scene.

Deborah Turner, 55-year-old from Bellevue, was traveling with Andresen. She was injured and airlifted by Medstar to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane.

Callie Turner, another passenger, was injured and airlifted by Medstar to Sacred Heart Medical Center.

Lawson, 39, was not injured, but the vehicle sustained $10,000 in damages and was towed by B and B Towing.

Michael Turner, 46, was injured and transported by ambulance to East Adams Rural Hospital. The vehicle he was driving, a 2005 GMC truck, sustained damages totaling $8,000 and was towed by B and B Towing.