Royal City woman hurt in accident

ROYAL CITY — A woman from Royal City was injured on June 21 about 10 miles east of Royal City on Highway 26 when the vehicle she was driving was rear-ended by a vehicle driven by a Pasco woman.

The other six persons involved in the crash were uninjured. The Washington State Patrol said all were using proper safety restraints and that neither alcohol nor drugs was involved.

The crash occurred at about 10:45 in the evening, with both vehicles traveling in the direction of Royal City. Royal resident Obdulia Calderon Jimenez, 38, slowed her 2000 gray Nissan Maxima to make a left turn onto Road C SE, and her car was struck from behind.

According to the State Patrol, the trailing car, a red 1996 Honda Civic, driven by Vanessa Gomez Ascencio, 21, of Pasco rear-ended the Maxima. The crash left the vehicles blocking both lanes of traffic.

“Following too close,” was the cause of the collision, the WSP reported, and Gomez Ascencio was cited for the infraction. Gomez Ascencio was not injured, but her vehicle sustained damage and was impounded by Oscar’s Towing.

Calderon Jimenez was transported by ambulance to Othello Community Hospital. Her vehicle sustained reportable damage but was driven from the scene.

The passengers in the Gomez Ascencio vehicle were Giovanni Marmolejo, 18, of Kennewick, Yarley Gomez, 2, of Pasco and Richard Santa Maria, 2, of Pasco.

Passengers in the Calderon Jimenez car included Isidro Leiva Asencion, 38, of Royal City, and Sergio Lara Calderon, 11, of Royal City.