Moses Lake man critical after collision

Collision results in road closure, fuel spill

MOSES LAKE - A Moses Lake man is in critical condition after reportedly colliding head-on with a semi truck on state Route 17, 10 miles north of Moses Lake Monday night.

Andres R. Rocha, 20, Moses Lake, was traveling southbound on the highway in a 1994 Ford Explorer, the Washington State Patrol reported. Rocha allegedly crossed the centerline and struck a northbound semi truck.

The Ford Explorer rolled to the right of the roadway and came to a stop on its side ejecting Rocha from the vehicle, the state patrol reported.

The semi truck was pulling two fuel-tank trailers. It was driven by Joel A. Bradford, 33, Wenatchee. The truck and trailers came to a stop on the left side of the roadway after the collision, the state patrol reported. The semi truck was on its wheels and the trailers were tipped over.

Rocha was transported to Deaconess Medical Center in Spokane where he was placed in the intensive care unit and remained in critical condition Tuesday, according to a hospital spokesperson.

He reportedly suffered a head injury and internal injuries, the state patrol reported.

Bradford allegedly suffered facial lacerations but was not taken to a medical center for treatment.

The collision caused both lanes of the roadway to be closed until 8 a.m. Tuesday, according to the state patrol. The closure was for further investigation, clearing the semi truck and fuel tanks from the road, and cleaning debris from the roadway.

Grant County Fire District No. 5 responded to the scene with more than 20 firefighters and emergency medical technicians, Fire Chief Roger Hansen said. When they arrived at the scene, Rocha was lying on the ground near the collision due to being ejected. The district helped transport him from the scene, he said.

The district set up a protection zone to contain the collision, Hasen said. The area was sprayed with foam to assist in clearing and absorbing the fuel from the roadway and surrounding area.

The district assisted in unloading the remainder of the fuel, he said.

According to Travis Svilar with Vista Service Towing, who assisted in removing vehicles from the scene, close to 11,400 gallons of fuel was removed from the collision site. Both vehicles were totaled and towed from the scene.

The collision remains under investigation and citations for Rocha are expected, the state patrol reported.