Three dead in Othello crash

OTHELLO — Three Warden residents were killed in a crash Thursday, Feb. 15, on state Highway 17 a mile east of the city.

Manuela Franco Huerta, 44, Daniel Gama Perez, 14, and Brini Moran Flores, 44, all died of injuries they sustained in the crash, the Washington State Patrol reported. Flores was pronounced dead at the scene; Huerta and Perez were pronounced dead at Othello Community Hospital.

All three were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash, the patrol reported. Neither drugs nor alcohol was a factor.

The crash occurred at about 7:09 a.m. Thursday, the patrol reported.

Huerta was driving a 2003 Toyota Corolla southbound on Highway 17, the patrol reported. A 2023 Hyundai truck and 2021 Cascadia trailer, driven by Jeffrey S. Tibbs, of Hermiston, Ore., was northbound nearing the intersection of Cunningham Road.

Huerta lost control of her car and slid into the northbound lane in front of the truck, the patrol reported. The truck hit the Toyota.

Tibbs, who was wearing a seatbelt, too, was not injured in the crash.

The patrol reported the crash was caused by Huerta driving too fast for conditions.

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