Soap Lake driver hurt in rock slide

SOAP LAKE - A Soap Lake driver was hurt after her SUV hit a rock slide on state Route 17 on Sunday evening.

Whitney N. Smith, 20, Soap Lake, was driving northbound in a 2007 Ford Focus on SR 17 when her SUV struck rocks on the highway, according to Washington State Patrol.

The SUV rolled several times after it struck the rocks and came to a rest on its top in the roadway, according to a patrol report.

Smith was taken to Columbia Basin Hospital for reported bruising and abrasions suffered during the incident.

The SUV was totaled.

State patrol shut down state Route 17 afterwards to clear debris and investigate the incident.

The highway was re-opened around 5 a.m. on Monday, according to Grant County Emergency Management spokesman Kyle Foreman.

The SUV's passenger, Karyn M. Blanchard, 18, Soap Lake, was not hurt in the incident, according to state patrol.

Foreman said rock slides are a common occurrence between Soap Lake and Coulee City on SR 17.

"Several times a year, there's rock slides along highway 17 and on many occasions, the rocks will end up on the roadway," said Foreman.

He suggests drivers remain diligent when traveling near those areas.

"Drivers should pay attention to what's in the roadway, ahead of them. Sometimes drivers are unaware if there is a rock slide in front of them and they end up driving into it. Especially at night," he said.