Five people died in a head-on collision on U.S. Highway 2/97 north of East Wenatchee, Washington, late on the night of Sunday, August 30, 2026. Washington State Patrol says a westbound 2014 Nissan Maxima crossed the center line near milepost 137 and struck an eastbound 2015 Chevrolet Sonic head-on at about 9:40 p.m. Everyone in both vehicles — the Chevrolet’s sole occupant and all four people in the Nissan — was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash happened on a rural stretch of highway roughly 11 miles north of East Wenatchee, in Douglas County.
According to The Wenatchee World, Washington State Patrol identified the victims on Thursday as Humberto Lillio Jimenez, 48, of Pasco, who was driving the Nissan; Martin Hilario Santiago, 35, Samuel Dominguez Nieto and Crecencio Basilio Perez, all passengers in the Nissan; and A.L. Garcia, 77, of Omak, who was driving the Chevrolet alone. Troopers say improper lane usage caused the crash and that drugs or alcohol are suspected to have been a factor, though the investigation continues. The outlet reported that Jimenez, Hilario Santiago and Garcia were wearing seatbelts, while the other two men in the Nissan were not. WSP has not released further details on how long Highway 2/97 remained closed while troopers investigated.
Five people were killed late Sunday night when a suspected drunk driver crossed into oncoming traffic on U.S. Highway 2 near Orondo, north of East Wenatchee, Washington. A westbound 2014 Nissan Maxima carrying four men veered into the eastbound lanes and slammed head-on into a 2015 Chevrolet Sonic driven by a 77-year-old Omak woman. All five occupants of both vehicles were pronounced dead at the scene. The Washington State Patrol shut down the highway for roughly two hours while troopers investigated, citing improper lane usage and suspected impairment as contributing factors.
According to KING5.com, troopers responded to the crash near milepost 137 shortly after 9:30 p.m. Sunday and found no survivors among the five victims. KOMO News reported that the Nissan driver is believed to have been impaired at the time of the crash, though the Washington State Patrol had not confirmed which substances were involved. Investigators said two of the Maxima’s passengers were not wearing seat belts. The Washington State Patrol’s investigation into the fatal collision remains active.
