82-year-old wrong-way driver killed in I-182 head-on in Pasco

An 82-year-old Richland woman was killed Monday afternoon when she drove the wrong way onto Interstate 182 in Pasco into oncoming traffic.

Edwina J. Steward died when her Kia sedan collided with a Honda Accord driven by a 16-year-old from Pasco and two other eastbound cars, said the Washington State Patrol.

Another two eastbound vehicles swerved into the median to avoid a collision.

The crash happened at 2:40 p.m. on the Pasco side of the Lee-Volpentest twin bridges over the Columbia River near Richland.

Initial reports indicated Steward may have gotten on the highway going the wrong way at the Road 100 exit of Interstate 182, however that is still under investigation, Trooper Chris Thorson said Tuesday.

The Honda Accord driver, Kylie D. Cushing of Pasco, was taken to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland with non-life-threatening injuries, said WSP investigators.

Steward’s sedan also hit a SUV driven by Jannet M. Lamas, 22, of West Richland, and a sedan driven by Janice A. Elliott, 41, of Pasco.

A Nissan pickup truck and Honda SUV ended up in the median. All the drivers were wearing seat belts, said the WSP.

Traffic was backed up for miles in both directions for a couple hours during the investigation.

This story was originally published March 1, 2021 at 3:15 PM.