Two injured early Sunday in DUI collision

MOSES LAKE — An Othello man and an Ephrata woman were injured in a two-vehicle DUI collision that closed a westbound lane of Interstate 90, near Hansen Road, early Sunday morning.

Henry Garcia Varela, 46, of Ephrata, is accused of vehicular assault and DUI as a result of the collision, according to a press release from the Washington State Patrol. Mateo Cruz, 25, of Othello, also was accused of DUI.

Garcia Varela and Cruz were driving west on I-90, just before 2:20 a.m., with Cruz in the right lane and Garcia Varela in the left lane, the WSP said. Garcia Varela attempted to merge into the right lane and rear-ended Cruz’ vehicle.

Tiffany Davis Garcia, 40, of Ephrata, a passenger in Garcia Varela’s car, and Cruz were injured in the crash and taken to a local hospital.