Man charged with vehicular homicide

EPHRATA — A Mattawa man allegedly ran a stop sign, striking a tractor trailer, killing two of the passengers and injuring two others.

Fernando G. Tapia, 27, is charged with two counts of vehicular homicide and two counts of vehicular assault.

Grant County Superior Court Judge John Antosz set bail at $125,000.

Tapia was driving a 2007 Dodge Nitro west on Road 24 Southwest near Mattawa on July 15 when he reached the intersection of state Route 243. He allegedly drove through the intersection without stopping at the stop sign, colliding with the rear axle of a tractor trailer, according to a Washington State Patrol report.

Both the front passenger and a rear passenger were killed during the crash. Two more rear passengers were injured. One suffered facial and cervical fractures and the other had broken ribs, according to the police report.

When police questioned Tapia, he allegedly admitted to drinking eight to 10 beers, saying he was traveling 35 mph to 40 mph when he ran past the stop sign, according to the police report

The tractor trailer’s driver was not hurt in the crash, according to the police report.