Truck rear-ends car, woman hurt

OTHELLO — An Othello woman was injured on Dec. 28 when the vehicle she was driving was rear-ended by a truck near Royal City, the Washington State Patrol reported.

The woman, Maria Arroyo Lopez, 45, was driving west on Highway 26 in a red 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser at about 8 a.m. She slowed to make a left turn, the WSP said, at Road 13.6 Southwest, or about one and one-half miles west of Royal City.

A blue 2001 Freightliner semi tractor trailing the Arroyo Lopez car did not slow in time and struck the car. The car and the truck crossed the eastbound lane and ended up in the eastbound ditch.

Neither drugs nor alcohol was a factor, the WSP reported, and both people involved in the collision were wearing proper safety restraints.

Arroyo Lopez was taken by ambulance to the Othello Community Hospital. Her vehicle was removed from the scene by Davis Towing of Schawana.

The driver of the truck, Omar Enrique Perez, 62, of Othello was not injured. His truck was also taken away by Davis Towing.

Perez was cited by the State Patrol for following too close.