3 injured in accident near Mattawa

MATTAWA — Three people were injured when a semi-truck lost its flatbed trailer and load, which hit a passing car about a mile north of the Vernita Bridge Monday night. The driver and passenger in the car, Michael Stewart, 68, and LaDonna Stewart, 61, both of Mattawa, were transported to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland; so was the driver of the semi, Harvir Atwal, 45, Surrey, B.C. The accident occurred about 8:15 p.m., according to a report from the Washington State Patrol. Atwal was driving south on Highway 243 when he ran off the road and overcorrected, the WSP report said. The flatbed trailer he was pulling lost its load and rolled across both lanes of traffic, hitting the Stewarts’ car. The car, a 2011 Toyota Camry, ended up on the shoulder, while Atwal’s truck, a 2010 Peterbilt, came to rest in the road. Atwal was cited for driving with wheels off the road.

— Staff report