1 person injured in collision near Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — A Soap Lake man was airlifted to a Wenatchee-area hospital on Sunday following a two-vehicle collision about six miles north of Moses Lake.

About 5:30 p.m. Mario Bastida, 57, of Soap Lake, was driving a 1999 Nissan Frontier south on state Route 17, about six miles north of Moses Lake, when he attempted to a make a left turn onto Neppel Road. Bastida reportedly turned in front of a 2007 Dodge Ram 2500 pickup truck driven by Paolo Cumerlato, 51, of Soap Lake. The truck struck the Nissan on the passenger side and both vehicles came to a rest north of the intersection of SR-17 and Neppel Road in the northbound ditch, according to the Washington State Patrol.

Bastida was injured in the collision and transported to Confluence Health-Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee for treatment. Cumerlato was not injured. Both of the vehicles involved in the collision sustained reportable damages and were impounded.

The patrol is still investigating the collision and citations have not been issued. Bastida and Cumerlato were wearing their seat belts and neither alcohol nor drugs played a role in the collision.

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