Tri-Cities woman drowns when car crashes into irrigation canal

A 22-year-old Pasco woman died when her car crashed into an irrigation canal filled with water near Mattawa.

Isel Mata drowned in the Aug. 27 accident, according to Grant County Coroner Craig Morrison.

An autopsy performed this week determined there was no foul play involved in her death.

Mata was alone in her car when it left the road and went into the canal off Road R SW.

Authorities were notified about a car in the canal at 2 p.m. that day, Morrison told the Tri-City Herald. It is not clear when she crashed or what caused Mata to drive off the road.

She was born in Othello and had lived in the Tri-Cities for four years.

Her Facebook page shows that she went to River’s Edge High School in Richland.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Einan’s at Sunset in Richland.