Child dies, two injured in collision

VANTAGE — A 6-year-old from Pasco died when a truck and car collided on Highway 26 near here on Oct. 27, according to the Washington State Patrol.

Injured in the 11:33 a.m. collision were a 13-year-old from Pasco and an adult male from Pasco, the WSP said. The crash occurred about just east of the Interstate 90 junction.

Both children were unnamed because they were juveniles. The adult who was injured was Eugenio Cruz Hernandez, 48, of Pasco. He was transported by Medstar to Kadlec Medical Center in Richland.

Cruz Hernandez was driving a red 2000 Ford Focus. Totaled, the vehicle was removed by Davis Towing of Schawana.

The driver of a 1997 Brown Kenworth Semi involved in the collision was Christopher L. Nelms, 38, of Pasco. He was wearing his safety restraint and was not injured. The truck sustained reportable damage and was removed by Davis.

The 13-year-old was a passenger in the Cruz Hernandez vehicle. He was wearing his seat belt but was hurt. He was taken to Kadlec by Medstar.

The 6-year-old was a passenger in the same car. He was wearing a seat belt, but he died at the scene.

The Cruz Hernandez car was eastbound on 26 from the I-90 eastbound ramp. The truck was eastbound on 26 from the I-90 westbound ramp.

According to the State Patrol, Cruz Hernandez attempted to make a U-turn in front of the truck about 800 feet from the junction.

The vehicles collided in the eastbound lane of 26 and came to rest on the westbound shoulder.