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.
Cinco personas murieron la noche del domingo cuando un conductor presuntamente ebrio se cruzo al carril contrario en la autopista US 2 cerca de Orondo, al norte de East Wenatchee, Washington. Un Nissan Maxima 2014 que viajaba hacia el oeste con cuatro hombres a bordo invadio los carriles en sentido este y choco de frente contra un Chevrolet Sonic 2015 conducido por una mujer de 77 anos de Omak. Los cinco ocupantes de ambos vehiculos murieron en el lugar. La Patrulla de Caminos de Washington cerro la carretera durante aproximadamente dos horas mientras los agentes investigaban, y senalo el uso indebido del carril y una posible influencia de alcohol o drogas como factores del choque.
Segun KING5.com, los agentes respondieron al choque cerca de la milla 137 poco despues de las 9:30 p.m. del domingo y no encontraron sobrevivientes entre las cinco victimas. KOMO News informo que se cree que el conductor del Nissan estaba bajo los efectos del alcohol o las drogas al momento del choque, aunque la Patrulla de Caminos de Washington aun no confirmaba que sustancias estaban involucradas. Los investigadores senalaron que dos de los pasajeros del Maxima no llevaban puesto el cinturon de seguridad. La investigacion de la Patrulla de Caminos de Washington sobre el choque fatal continua activa.
