Ambulance struck while responding to I-90 collision Monday

MOSES LAKE — An ambulance was rear-ended while responding to a collision on Interstate 90 Monday.

About 2:05 p.m. Haylie Warren, 24, of West Richland, was driving a 2012 Ford Econoline American Medical Response (AMR) ambulance west on I-90, about seven miles west of Moses Lake. The ambulance reportedly had its light and sirens activated at it slowed down to arrive at a separate collision on I-90.

Matthew Pluzhnikov, 29, of Chicago, Ill., was driving a 2012 Lincoln sedan west on I-90 and reportedly changed lanes. He allegedly failed to slow down for the ambulance and ended up rear-ending the vehicle, according to the Washington State Patrol. An AMR employee in the ambulance, Julia Baxter, 51, of Moses Lake, was injured in the collision and transported to Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake for treatment. Warren, Pluzhnikov and his passenger, Anthony Green, 32, of Chicago, Ill., were not injured.

The ambulance sustained reportable damages and was driven from the scene. The Lincoln also sustained reportable damages and was towed from the scene. The patrol reports that Pluzhnikov was cited for driving too fast for conditions.

In a Facebook post, Moses Lake firefighters stated that as they responded to the collision scene with Grant County Fire District No. 5, they were passed by several vehicles that were traveling at unsafe speeds.

“During our ‘lights and siren’ response we were passed by two other vehicles traveling well over the speed limit. They eventually pulled over, so why they passed us in the first place we have no idea,” reads the post.

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