Six injured in two-vehicle collision near Royal City

Six men were injured Tuesday morning in a collision on state Route 26, southeast of Royal City, according to the Washington State Patrol.

Jose I. Castrejon Barragan, 51, of Moses Lake, was driving a 2015 Chevrolet Express east on state Route 26 just before 6:31 a.m., when he slowed to turn onto northbound Dodson Road, but failed to yield to a white 2005 Ford Focus, driven by Juan Ramirez Maldonado, 37, of Othello, which was westbound on state Route 26, nearing Dodson Road.

The Chevrolet struck the driver’s side front of the Ford, the WSP stated, and both vehicles came to rest blocking westbound state Route 26.

Castrejon Barragan and his passenger, Edgar Vazquez, 46, were taken to Samaritan Hospital for their injuries. Other passengers, Jorge Martinez, 30, Sylvester Nasticio, 25, and Jose Tomas, 32, were taken to Othello Community Hospital for their injuries.

Castrejon Barragan’s passengers not injured were Ramon Borjon, 28, Antonio Manzo, 29, Ramon G. Perez, 38, of Kenmore, Ruben Tepez, 25, and Gilberto Ventura, 46.

Ramirez Maldonado was flown to Kadlec Regional Medical Center for his injuries. He was cited for failure to yield right of way.

Passengers without residences listed above didn’t have identification, according to WSP Trooper PIO John Bryant. There also was a language barrier, he said, so the investigating trooper had to get names and ages with the help of a third party.

Everyone wore seat belts and both vehicles were totaled. Drugs and/or alcohol didn’t appear to be a factor.