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.