1 dead from injuries in Othello collision

OTHELLO — A man who was involved in a collision near Othello last week passed away from injuries.

About 8:55 p.m. on Wednesday Jan. 16 Dennis Moraney, 54, of Mattawa, was in the state Route 26/Moon Road intersection, about a mile west of Othello, when he reportedly attempted to make a turn onto SR-26. Moraney reportedly crossed the centerline and was struck by a 2015 Toyota Camry driven by Abel Castro, 21, of Othello. The Camry left the road to the right and came to a rest on it’s top. The semi came to a rest blocking the eastbound and westbound SR-26 lanes, according to the Washington State Patrol.

Castro was injured in the collision and transported to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane for treatment. He ultimately passed away from the injuries in the late evening hours on Thursday. Moraney was not injured. Both the vehicles involved in the collision sustained reportable damages.

The exact cause of the collision is under investigation, but the patrol says Moraney was cited for crossing the center line. The patrol did not disclose if any additional charges are pending due to Castro passing away. SR-26 was blocked for over five hours on Wednesday as the collision scene was cleared and investigated.

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