Two Mattawa men killed in crash

MATTAWA — Two Mattawa men were killed in a collision on state Route 243, one mile west of Mattawa, Wednesday morning.

Mario Carranza, 29, and Eduardo Guerrero, 21, died at the collision scene due to massive injuries, the Washington State Patrol reported. They were passengers in a 2007 Dodge Nitro.

Fernando G. Tapia, 27, Mattawa, was traveling westbound with four passengers on Road 24 in the Dodge Nitro approaching SR 243, the state patrol reported. He allegedly failed to stop at a stop sign and collided with a trailer being pulled by a semitruck on the highway.

Tapia was transported to Kadlec Medical Center in Richland, Wash., for treatment of possible leg injuries.

Luis Navarro-Media, 33, Quincy, was the driver of the 2002 Peterbuilt truck pulling a trailer of potatoes. He was treated at the scene for bumps and bruises, the state patrol reported.

Guadalupe J. Gonzalez, 21, Federal Way, Wash., was a passenger in the Dodge Nitro. He was transported to Yakima Regional Hospital for treatment of possible facial, neck, back and shoulder fractures. He was later airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Spokane.

Rafael Guerrero Jr., 28, Grandview, Wash., was a passenger in the Dodge Nitro. He was transported to Yakima Regional Hospital for treatment of possible broken ribs and a shoulder injury.

Authorities suspect drugs or alcohol may be involved in the collision. Authorities are investigating potential charges against Tapia, the state patrol reported.

The Dodge Nitro was totaled and towed from the scene.

The Peterbuilt semitruck and trailer sustained $10,000 worth of damage and was towed from the scene.

While troopers investigated the scene, the intersection was blocked for about five hours.