Royal man hurt in fiery crash

QUINCY - Three adults, including one from Royal City, were injured, but a toddler was unharmed when three vehicles crashed in a double rear-ender on Dec. 22 on Highway 28 five miles west of Quincy.

One of the vehicles ignited.

The collisions occurred when all three vehicles were eastbound on 28, driving into the morning sun at about 8:30. Two of the drivers were cited by the Washington State Patrol for "speed too fast for conditions."

According to the WSP, the lead vehicle was a 2005 Ford F350 pickup towing a gooseneck flatbed trailer. It was driven by Dale E. Dahlke, 60, of Waterville. He was not injured.

Dahlke, who was properly restrained, was following a slow-moving crane with emergency flashers blinking when his vehicle was struck. There was reportable damage to the trailer, but the pickup was driven from the scene.

The second vehicle, which started the chain reaction by rear-ending the first, was driven by Elias V. Manjares, 57, of Royal, who was wearing his seat belt. Injured, he was transported by ambulance to Quincy Valley Hospital.

Manjares was driving a 1995 Ford Ranger pickup. Totaled, it was impounded by Quincy Towing.

The driver of the third vehicle, a 2012 GMC Terrain, was Jennifer J. Rice, 32, of East Wenatchee. At about five minutes after the initial collision, the GMC struck the Ranger from behind. Then it struck the trailer and caught fire.

Rice was properly restrained, but she was injured. She was taken by ambulance to QVH.

Also injured was Cruz A. Guido, 49, of Wenatchee. He was a passenger in the Ford Ranger pickup and wore his seat belt. He was taken by ambulance to QVH.

Not hurt was Bentlee D. Rice, 2, of East Wenatchee, daughter of Jennifer J. Rice. She was properly restrained.

She accompanied her mother to QVH in the ambulance.