Four die as collision sends car into canal
The Royal Register News
GEORGE - Two adults and two children died and one person was injured the morning of May 26 when a two-vehicle collision sent one car into a canal west of George.
According to County Coroner Craig Morrison, the names of the Stanwood family members who died were
Dioselina Buenrostro, 33, Gabriel Ochoa 35, Yesenia "Jessie" Ochoa, 4, and Sandra Ochoa, 9.
"In my 21 years in law enforcement, this is the most tragic, single incident I have ever been to," Grant County Sheriff Tom Jones said. "My heart is filled with sorrow, and I pray for peace and comfort for the surviving family members."
The Buenrostro-Ochoa family was en route to Quincy to visit family. Morrison's office has said the cause of all four deaths was drowning.
Emergency responders were summoned to County Road 1 NW and Beverly-Burke Road NW at around 8 a.m. A 2003 Chevy Tahoe carrying the Stanwood family collided there with a 2011 Kia Sport driven by Athena T. Greene, 27, of Edmonds, according to Jones.
A preliminary investigation by the Grant County Sheriff's Motor Traffic Unit revealed Green's vehicle was stopped, facing southbound at the stop sign posted on County Road 1 NW and Beverly Burke Road.
The Buenrostro vehicle, a 2003 Chevy Tahoe, was northbound on the Beverly Burke Road and approaching the intersection of Road 1 NW.
Green's vehicle pulled onto Beverly Burke, into the path of the Tahoe and proceeded northbound. Buenrostro's vehicle rear-ended Green's car. Green's car came to rest on the east shoulder of Beverly Burke, a short distance from the point of impact.
Buenrostro's Tahoe continued northbound, crossing over the southbound lane and striking a canal bridge guardrail. The Tahoe continued into the irrigation canal on the west side of the bridge and sank. It was taken about 100 yards downstream by the current.
Rescuers were able to remove all members of the Buenrostro family, Jones said, but the man and woman died at the scene, and the two children died later at Quincy Valley Medical Center.
Green suffered minor injuries and was taken to QVMC.