Six Injured in Three-Vehicle Crash on U.S. 12 Near Salkum, Washington
Six people were injured Sunday afternoon, September 6, 2026, when three vehicles collided in a chain-reaction crash on eastbound U.S. Highway 12 near milepost 83, close to Salkum in Lewis County, Washington. According to the Washington State Patrol, a Ford F-150 had stopped to turn left onto Village Road when a GMC Yukon stopped behind it, and a following Hyundai Elantra failed to stop in time and struck the Yukon, pushing it into the F-150. All six occupants from the three vehicles were injured and taken to Providence Centralia Hospital for treatment. Troopers cited the Elantra’s driver for distracted driving, saying inattention allegedly caused the crash.
KIRO 7 News Seattle reported that the collision occurred around 1:53 p.m. and that information on the drivers’ conditions was not immediately available at the time of publication. The outlet noted that Washington State Patrol responded to the scene and continued gathering information about the crash. U.S. 12 through Lewis County has drawn safety scrutiny in recent years, with local outlets noting the corridor’s history of serious collisions. No further details on the severity of injuries had been released as of this report.
Six People Injured in Three-Vehicle Crash on U.S. 12 in Lewis County
Where It Happened
U.S. Highway 12 eastbound near milepost 83 and the Village Road intersection, just outside Salkum in Lewis County, Washington
What the Law Says
Washington law requires drivers to maintain a safe following distance so they can stop in time if traffic ahead slows or stops. RCW 46.61.145 prohibits following another vehicle more closely than is reasonable given speed, traffic, and road conditions. In chain-reaction, rear-end crashes like the one reported on U.S. 12, a violation of this rule is often central to determining fault. A driver who fails to leave adequate stopping distance and strikes a stopped or slowing vehicle from behind is typically presumed negligent under Washington law.
Washington’s distracted driving law, known as E-DUI, makes it illegal to hold a phone or other electronic device while driving, even at a stop. RCW 46.61.672 also bars any activity that draws a driver’s attention away from safely operating the vehicle. Authorities said distraction allegedly contributed to the trailing driver’s failure to stop before striking the vehicle ahead in this crash. A distracted-driving citation like the one issued here can support a civil negligence claim brought by injured occupants of the other vehicles.
This summary is general information, not legal advice. Every case depends on its specific facts.
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