Intoxicated driver plows into trooper's vehicle near George

GEORGE — An intoxicated semi-truck driver reportedly crashed into the rear of a Washington State Patrol trooper’s patrol vehicle on Friday near George.

About 5 p.m. Washington State Patrol Trooper Dawn Ferrell was traveling south on state Route 281, near George, when she was flagged down by a citizen who wanted to report an erratically driven semi-truck. Ferrell pulled over to the right, with her 2018 Ford Explorer patrol car partially blocking SR-281.

Ferrell reportedly exited her patrol car to wave Isaac Guerrero, 25, of Outlook, who was driving a 1989 Peterbilt semi-truck with a 53-foot trailer, over to the shoulder. Ferrell drove her patrol car to the shoulder to clear the roadway and Guerrero pulled in behind the patrol car and “rolled” into the rear of the vehicle, according to the WSP.

Neither Ferrell nor Guerrero was injured. The patrol says Guerrero was intoxicated at the time of the collision and he was cited for DUI. The roadway was closed for almost an hour and a half Friday night as the collision scene was cleared and investigated.

Richard Byrd can be reached via rbyrd@columbiabasinherald.com.