A motorcyclist was killed and his passenger was left in critical condition Saturday evening, September 12, 2026, in a two-vehicle crash on State Route 397 east of Kennewick, Washington. The Washington State Patrol says an SUV traveling north on SR 397 attempted to turn left onto Perkins Road and failed to yield to the oncoming motorcycle, striking it during heavy rain around 8:20 p.m. The rider, 36-year-old Lyle Mineer III of Kennewick, was pronounced dead at the scene. His passenger, 22-year-old Laurana Hechinger-Vantine, was rushed to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in critical condition.
According to NEWStalk 870, the SUV driver, 29-year-old Jackie Thatcher of Kennewick, was cited for failure to yield the right of way; neither she nor her passenger was hurt. NEWStalk 870 and NBC Right Now both reported that both motorcycle occupants were wearing DOT-approved helmets and that drugs or alcohol were not factors in the crash. The Washington State Patrol’s investigation remains ongoing, and no road closure information has been released. The crash is a reminder that failing to yield while turning at an intersection can have fatal consequences.
