Quincy man dies in I-90 collision

KITTITAS — A Quincy man who was possibly racing another vehicle died over the weekend in a collision on Interstate 90 near Kittitas.

About 12:10 p.m. on Saturday Jose Alay-Ortega, 30 of Quincy, was driving a 2005 Nissan Sentra west on I-90, about 10 miles east of Kittitas, when he reportedly lost control of his vehicle. Alay-Ortega, who the Washington State Patrol reports was possibly racing another vehicle, began to slide sideways, struck a rock bank in the median and the Nissan rolled.

The Nissan came to a rest on its wheels facing south in the median. Alay-Ortega died at the scene of the collision. Alay-Ortega’s passenger, identified as Jose Herrera-Marcos, 28, of Quincy, was injured in the collision and transported to Kittitas Valley Hospital for treatment. The Nissan was totaled in the collision.

The patrol states the cause of the collision is under investigation. No citations have been issued. It is not known if the men in the vehicle were wearing their seatbelts.

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