Six injured in two-vehicle collision

Six people were injured Sunday afternoon in a two-vehicle collision at state Route 243 and Road 22.5, northwest of Mattawa.

Guillermina Gonzalez, 50, of Mattawa, was driving her blue 2004 Saturn Ion, just before 4:12 p.m., north on state Route 243 and made a U-turn at Road 22.5, according to the Washington State Patrol. Her car was struck by a black 2017 Ford Fusion, driven by Veronica Sanchez, 34, of Grandview, which was behind her.

The Saturn partially blocked the northbound lane and the Fusion came to rest in the southbound ditch.

Gonzalez, Sanchez, and four children in Sanchez’ vehicle, ages 7, 8, 11, and 13, of Grandview, were injured and taken to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland. The two passengers in Gonzalez’ vehicle, Vianey Arroyo Pajas, 34, of Mattawa, and Nestor Salazar Silva, 32, of Quincy, were not injured. All were wearing seat belts.

Gonzalez could face charges of first-degree negligent driving, having an open container of alcohol in the vehicle, and having no insurance. The WSP stated in a release the cause of the crash was an improper U-turn.