Ephrata woman dies in collision near Coulee City

COULEE CITY — A blown tire on a pickup truck led to a two-vehicle collision and the death of an Ephrata woman on state Route 17 near Coulee City on Friday.

About 4:25 p.m. Greg Lopata, 36, of Arlington, was driving a 2000 Ford F-250 pickup truck south on state Route 17, about two miles south of Coulee City, when the front left tire on his truck blew. He lost control of the vehicle. Lopata reportedly veered over the centerline and struck a northbound 2010 Chevrolet Impala driven by Jaurette Jackson, 55, of Ephrata. Both of the vehicles came to a rest blocking the northbound SR-17 lane, according to the Washington State Patrol.

Jackson died at the scene of the collision. Lopata and his passenger, Stephen Correll, 34, of Ephrata, were injured and transported to Columbia Basin Hospital in Ephrata for treatment. The patrol reports the cause of the collision was defective equipment on Lopata’s truck. Charges against Lopata are pending, according to the patrol.

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