Pile up on I-90 leaves one dead, four injured

A snow storm on Friday, Dec. 20, led to a multiple vehicle crash and resulted in one fatality on Interstate 90 seven miles east of Ritzville around 12:45 p.m. The collision involved nine vehicles, including two semis, and resulted in one death and four injuries.

After initially being announced as a double fatality collision, Washington State Patrol issued a follow-up press release stating one individual had been transported to East Adams Rural Hospital with life-threatening injuries. WSP then released a statement hours later saying the subject died from the injuries.

The chain reaction collision cause has been attributed to speed too fast for the conditions and it resulted in the closure of both westbound lanes of I-90 for 12 hours. Due to the collision being a fatal crash, an investigation had to be conducted before the vehicles could be removed.

Jean Amidon, 52, of Whitefish, Mont., was deceased at the scene after her vehicle struck a Freightliner tractor/trailer that had stopped for another collision on westbound I-90 at milepost 229. Her 2011 Silver Pilot was then struck by an International tractor/trailer, causing the vehicle to be pinched between the two semis.

The three vehicles came to rest, blocking both lanes of traffic on the interstate.

Spokane driver Sean Hauk, 21, hit the International truck on the left side and the Subaru Outback became pinched between the semi and the guardrail. Hauk was not injured in the accident.

A Jeep Cherokee, driven by Henry Richenstein, 19, hit Hauk’s vehicle and also became pinched between the semi and the guardrail. Richenstein did not suffer any injuries.

Another vehicle was wedged in behind Richenstein and also stuck between the guardrail and the International truck. Lake Stevens resident Richard Curtis, 47, drove the Lexus RX300 and Curtis and his passenger, Darlene Curtis, were both transported to East Adams Rural Hospital with injuries.

John Forkan of Butte, Mont., 62, then hit the Lexus RX300 vehicle in a Buick Lucerne and came to rest between that vehicle and the International truck. Forkan and passenger 63-year-old Helen Forkan were both injured and transported to East Adams Rural Hospital.

Filer, Idaho, driver Lance Jensen hit the back of Forkan’s vehicle and came to rest on top of the guardrail in a Ford F-250.

Jensen was not injured in the accident.

David Brown then hit the back of the International truck and the Toyota 4-Runner came to rest behind the truck.

The 51-year-old Camano Island driver was the only individual who’s vehicle that was driven from the scene. Adams Towing, Pete’s Towing and B&B Towing impounded the other eight vehicles.