Warden man killed in early morning collision

GRANT COUNTY – A 57-year-old Warden man was deceased at the scene and residents of Connell and Ephrata sent to the hospital when a tractor trailer struck a pickup truck from behind early Friday morning, Mar. 26.

Froylan D. Valdivia of Warden was northbound on Highway 17 in a Chevy pickup truck when he slowed to make a left turn. Abel Juarez Avila of Connell was driving a tractor trailer northbound on Highway 17 when he struck Valdivia's vehicle from the rear. Valdivia died, and Avila, age 30, was transported to the Othello hospital.

A third vehicle involved in the collision was traveling southbound on Highway 17, and was struck by Valdivia's truck when it was pushed into the southbound lane by Avila's vehicle. Arturo R. Fernandez of Ephrata was driving a Ford pickup when he was struck by Valdivia's pickup. Fernandez, 26, was also transported to Othello Hospital.

All three drivers were wearing their seatbelts.

According to Washington State Patrol documents, the cause of the collision was no lights on Valdivia's vehicle. The collision occurred at 4:44 a.m.

Valdivia's pickup was totaled, and the tractor trailer and Fernandez's pickup both had reportable damage.