County Coroner releases names of victims in Frenchman Hills accident

GEORGE — Grant County Coroner Craig Morrison has identified three local people who were killed in a two-vehicle collision on Frenchman Hills Road May 25.

Arturo Galvez-Vazquez, 48, Aaron Medel-Alvarez, 49, and Tabita Pricilla Soto-Luis, 56, all from Othello, died after they were ejected from a Chevrolet van they were traveling in collided with a Nissan Armada driven by Ma Guadalupe Grimaldo Vasquez, 51, of Quincy, at the intersection of Adams Road South and Frenchman Hills Road Southwest.

According to a Grant County Police report, all three victims were not wearing seat belts. The van, driven by Cristobal Herrera Lopez, 42, of Othello, was transporting 10 passengers to work at about 4:30 a.m., heading north on Adams Road South when the Nissan, which was heading east on Frenchman Hills Road Southwest, ran a stop sign and struck the van.

The van then left the road and rolled one and a half times, ejecting several passengers who were not wearing seat belts as well the report stated. Eight people from the van and Vasquez were injured as a result of the accident. Vasquez was treated at a local hospital and released. Herrera Lopez was reportedly the only person in the van who was wearing a seat belt.

The sheriff’s office is continuing to investigate the collision. Charges have yet to be filed as of press time. Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at (509)762-1160. Callers can remain anonymous.