3 injured in Moses Lake collision

MOSES LAKE — Three people were injured in a collision in Moses Lake on Monday after an elderly male driver allegedly failed to stop at a red light.

About 12:15 p.m. Richard Smith, 93, of Ephrata, was driving a 2006 Kia Optima north on state Route 17, in Moses Lake city limits, when he reportedly attempted to make a left turn onto Yonezawa Boulevard, despite being at a red light. He reportedly struck a 1988 Toyota Camry driven by Serafin Corona Barajas, 65, of Warden in the intersection. The vehicles came to rest blocking the southbound SR-17 lanes at Yonezawa Boulevard, according to the Washington State Patrol.

Corona Barajas and his passenger, Elsa Yanez-Henriquez, 56, of Warden, and Smith’s passenger, Bernice Smith, 92, of Ephrata, were injured in the collision and transported to Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake for treatment. Corona Barajas was not injured.

The patrol reports the cause of the collision was Richard Smith failing to stop at a red light. No citations were issued, however.

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