Semi-truck involved in Ryegrass collision found

KITTITAS — A semi-truck that was involved in a fatal collision last week near Kittitas was found. The driver of the truck is still on the run.

A passerby reportedly spotted the blue Peterbilt semi-truck in Grant County and notified the Grant County Sheriff’s Office of the vehicle’s location, according to Trooper Brian Moore. The driver of the truck hasn’t been found.

The truck is connected with a fatal Sept. 26 collision near Kittitas that left a 20-year-old woman dead. About 5:30 a.m. Justin Tamez, 21, of Ellensburg, was driving a 1999 Dodge Ram 2500 pickup truck east on Interstate 90 when he lost control of the truck after seeing an animal in the road. The truck reportedly hit a guardrail, rolled and came to a rest on its top.

The truck was then struck by a 2004 Mazda Tribute driven by Shannon Prendergast, 20, of Everett. The Mazda continued down I-90 for about .20 miles until it struck a fence. Prendergast died in the collision. Tamez was transported to Kittitas Valley Community Hospital for treatment. The blue Peterbilt semi-truck reportedly struck the Dodge as it was on its top and fled the area, leaving behind a door at the scene.

Anyone with information on the collision or where the semi’s driver may be is asked to call 509-925-5303 or 509-682-8090.