Friday, Aug. 29, 2008

Quincy woman killed in crash near Ephrata

By the Herald staff

EPHRATA -- A 43-year-old Quincy woman was killed in a car crash when a driver tried to make a U-turn on Highway 283 near Ephrata.

Juan Vicente Lopez Cuara, 27, of Quincy, pulled a 1992 Buick Century onto the highway shoulder three miles west of Ephrata at 3:55 p.m., the Washington State Patrol said.

He tried to make a U-turn in front of a 1999 van that was heading westbound.

The two vehicles crashed in the westbound lane, killing Juana Estrada Ibarra at the scene and seriously injuring Lopez Cuara.

Lopez Cuara was flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with a head injury and broken pelvis and arm, the state patrol said.

Terry Lee Walker, 47, of Quincy, was driving the van and was taken to Quincy Valley Medical Center with cuts and bruises.

No conditions were available Thursday night.

The crash is under investigation.