Two hospitalized after collision near Othello

OTHELLO — Two people were injured and hospitalized when a car collided with a semitruck about 12 miles west of Othello Wednesday morning. 

According to a press memo from the Washington State Patrol, Leslie Villalobos, 23, was driving south on Road D Southeast at about 8:15 a.m. when she failed to slow down at the intersection. Rigoberto Pruneda, 41, Othello, was driving west on SR 26 when Villalobos's car entered the intersection, the WSP memo said. 

Trooper Jeremy Weber, WSP District 6 public information officer, said Pruneda attempted to steer out of the way of her vehicle, which is difficult to do in a semitruck.

"He turned to avoid it, and when you have a big semi, those things don't turn on a dime," Weber said. 

The two cars collided in the intersection; Villalobos hit the front of Pruneda's truck. The truck rolled and came to rest on the right shoulder of SR 26, the WSP memo said. Villalobos's car also came to rest on the right shoulder.

Pruneda was transported to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland, the WSP memo said. Villalobos was transported to Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake. 

"Weather was a factor because it was extremely foggy," Weber said. 

Drivers need to take foggy conditions into account, he said, which means turning on headlights and slowing down. Fog can lead to icy road conditions as temperatures drop. 

"This is the time of year we start seeing that freezing fog," he said.