Two people were killed Friday afternoon when a severe dust storm swept across Highway 397 south of Kennewick, Washington, triggering a chain-reaction pileup involving roughly 15 vehicles, including two semi-trucks. Around 1:51 p.m., a northbound Toyota RAV4 collided head-on with a southbound Peterbilt tractor-trailer near milepost 3, killing both occupants of the SUV at the scene. Several other drivers and passengers caught up in the multi-vehicle crash were injured. Washington State Patrol shut down roughly seven miles of the highway between Nine Canyon Road and Interstate 82 for hours while troopers worked the scene.
According to KXLY.com, the RAV4’s driver, 84-year-old Radphord L. Howard Sr. of West Richland, and his 81-year-old wife, Diana L. Howard, were pronounced dead at the scene, while the truck driver was not hurt. KXLY.com reported that Washington State Patrol does not suspect drugs or alcohol played a role and that the investigation into the crash remains active. The highway reopened to traffic around 10 p.m. Friday night after crews cleared the scene.
A West Richland couple was killed and several other people were injured Friday afternoon when a head-on crash on State Route 397 near Kennewick triggered a chain-reaction pileup involving 12 vehicles, including two semi-trucks. The Washington State Patrol says an SUV traveling northbound near milepost 3 crossed the center line around 1:51 p.m. and collided head-on with a southbound tractor-trailer, setting off the multi-vehicle crash amid high winds and a large dust cloud in the area. SR 397 was shut down in both directions for several hours while crews cleared the scene. The cause remains under investigation, though troopers believe strong winds may have contributed.
According to AppleValleyNewsNow.com, the deceased were identified as Radphord Howard, 84, and his wife Diana Howard, 81, both of West Richland, who were pronounced dead at the scene. The outlet reported that several other people involved in the 12-vehicle pileup were hurt, though their conditions were not immediately released. The driver of the semi-truck the Howards’ SUV struck, a 68-year-old Kennewick man, was not injured. Washington State Patrol said drugs or alcohol were not factors in the crash.
A dust storm triggered a chain-reaction crash involving 12 vehicles, including two semi-trucks, on Highway 397 south of Kennewick, Washington, on the afternoon of September 25, 2026. Two people were killed and several others were injured when high winds reduced visibility along the corridor near milepost 4. One of the involved semi-trucks was hauling hazardous materials, though authorities confirmed nothing leaked. Highway 397 was shut down in both directions between Nine Canyon Road and Interstate 82 for hours while crews cleared the scene and investigators worked the crash.
According to applevalleynewsnow.com, the pileup began around 1:51 p.m. when blowing dust drastically cut visibility, causing a series of collisions that stretched from the milepost west toward I-82. Washington State Patrol Trooper Daniel Mosqueda told NBC Right Now the cause remains under investigation, though he believes strong winds played a role. The victims were later identified as Radphord and Diana Howard, an elderly West Richland couple who were reportedly traveling westbound when their vehicle struck a semi-truck. Emergency crews with Benton County Fire District 1 responded alongside WSP to manage the scene and treat the injured.
