Wrong-way crash near Pasco kills Tri-Cities man. Driver may face vehicular homicide
A Pasco man died early Saturday morning when his Toyota Scion was hit by a Hyundai Santa Fe driven the wrong direction on Highway 12.
Salvador Beltran, 28, died before he could be taken to a hospital.
The crash is being investigated as a vehicular homicide, according to the Washington State Patrol.
Caitlin Bailey, 40, of Athena, Ore., was driving the wrong direction toward the Wallula Junction on the divided highway at 3:10 a.m., according to the Washington State Patrol.
Her Hyundai crashed head on into Beltran’s Toyota about 10 miles southeast of Pasco in Walla Walla County, according to the WSP.
Bailey was taken to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland. Both drivers were wearing seat belts.
The WSP is investigating whether alcohol was involved, Trooper Chris Thorson said on social media. Charges are pending, the WSP said.
The WSP initially reported that Bailey was driving toward Pasco in the wrong lane, but issued a correction to say she was driving south in the wrong lane.
