Paterson — A 22-year-old man was killed early today when a semi-truck collided with the car he was in on Highway 221 near Paterson.
Benton County Coroner John Hansens said Juan Carlos Cruz of Hermiston died on scene after the truck rear-ended the car while it stopped to make a left hand turn around 6:50 a.m.
The driver of the car, Jose L. Rouge-Lopez, 30, was flown to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland. Another passenger, Francisco Cruz, 18, was taken by ambulance to the same medical center, the Washington State Patrol reported.
The driver of the truck, Shawn E. Miller, 52, of Pasco, was not injured in the collision, WSP said.
Cruz was sitting in the backseat of the car and the collision caused both vehicles off the road, Hansens said. All four men involved in the crash were wearing their seat belts, WSP said.
