Suspect in Ephrata hit-and-run collision still being sought

EPHRATA — Deputies are searching for a person who was reportedly involved in a hit-and-run collision in Ephrata on Saturday.

About 4:25 p.m. on Saturday a 1994 Honda Civic driven by an unidentified person was reportedly traveling east on state Route 28, about one-and-a-half miles west of Ephrata, and attempted to pass a 2013 Toyota Corolla driven by Arnoldo Cornelio, 22, of Quincy.

The Civic reportedly touched the Corolla, causing it to spin and travel into oncoming westbound SR-28 traffic and strike a 2015 Chrysler 200 driven by Sandra Gierke, 39, of Moses Lake. The Corolla and Chrysler came to a rest off SR-28, according to the Washington State Patrol. The driver of the Civic reportedly fled the scene and abandoned the Civic off Dodson Road.

Arnoldo and his passengers, a 3-year-old girl and 1-year-old boy, were injured and transported to Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake for treatment. Gierke and her passenger, a 13-year-old girl, were also injured and transported to Samaritan Hospital.

Deputies with the Grant County Sheriff’s Office searched the 1100 block of Dodson Road to find the driver of the Civic, but the suspect is wasn’t found. Deputies don’t believe the suspect poses a threat to the public. To report information about the case contact the Grant County Sheriff’s Office at 509-762-1160.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.