Hay truck sets off chain reaction crash in south Benton County

A semi pulling a load of hay set off a chain-reaction crash in south Benton County, sending two people to the hospital.

Wesley J. Purcell, 24, of Pilot Rock, Ore., was driving a tractor-trailer west about 7:15 a.m. Thursday on Highway 14 just outside of Plymouth, which is about 19 miles south of Kennewick city limits, the Washington State Patrol said.

He allegedly wasn’t paying attention when a Chevy van stopped in front of him to turn onto Plymouth Industrial Road, the state patrol said. The semi hit the van and pushed it into the eastbound lane where it hit a Ford F150 pickup.

The semi then went into the eastbound lane as well and hit a Toyota, the state patrol said.

The van’s driver, Kody G. Bruton, 22, of Kennewick, and the pickup’s driver, David O’ Brien, 56, of Lewiston, Idaho, were taken to Trios Southridge Hospital. Their conditions were not immediately available.

The fourth driver was not hurt.

The crash blocked the highway until the vehicles could be cleared, Washington State Patrol Trooper Chris Thorson said.

Purcell was cited with second degree negligent driving.