Potato and onion trucks collide near Othello
Two tractor trailers, one carrying potatoes and the other hauling onions, collided at the intersection of S.R.26 and Beverly Burke Road west of Royal City. Around 350 Grant County Public Utility District customers lost power as a result of the 5 a.m. accident, but saw their power restored by about 9:30 a.m.
Courtesy Photo/Ground County Public Utility District
OTHELLO — An Othello man was taken to Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake following an accident early Monday near the intersection of S.R. 26 and Beverly Burke Road west of Royal City, according to the Washington State Patrol.
In a statement, the WSP said Victor Garza, 70, of Othello, was driving west in a 2013 Volvo semi-tractor trailer hauling potatoes on S.R. 26 toward Royal City at around 5 a.m. when he attempted to pass Miguel Gomez, 37, of Royal City, who was driving a large Volvo truck hauling onions.
According to WSP spokesperson John Bryant, Gomez was attempting to make a left turn onto Beverly Burke Road when Garza attempted to pass him on the left, striking Gomez’s truck.
The two vehicles then skidded off the road and hit a Grant Public Utility District power pole, with Gomez’s truck coming to a rest with the power pole on the cab and Garza’s truck stopped at the side of the road balanced on its rear axles, according to the WSP.
“There are a lot of accidents at that intersection,” Bryant said.
Garza was transported to Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake, the WSP report said.
Around 350 PUD customers in the Beverly and Shawn areas lost power as a result of the accident, according to PUD spokesperson Ryan Holterhoff.
“Most were re-energized by 9:30 a.m.,” he said, adding that power was rerouted to affected customers while PUD crews worked to replace the damaged power pole.
Charles H. Featherstone can be reached at cfeatherstone@columbiabasinherald.com and appreciates any news tips related to Moses Lake, Warden or local businesses.