Richland High mourns death of senior killed in wreck. Teen driver may face charges
Richland High School students are in mourning after the death of a senior just days before Thanksgiving.
Maria Vasquez Reyes, 17, was killed Tuesday afternoon in a wreck on the Highway 240 bypass off-ramp to Interstate 182, heading east.
“Our entire Richland School District community is mourning the sudden loss of Richland High School 12th grade student, Maria Vasquez Reyes,” Richland Schools Public Information Officer Shawna Dinh told the Herald in a statement.
“The loss of a young life is always a profound tragedy, and we are committed to providing support to our students, staff and Maria’s family as we grieve together. We ask for privacy for Maria’s family during this incredibly difficult time.”
Washington State Patrol said the Infiniti G35 being driven by Celcilo Romero, 18, left the roadway and rolled while heading toward the I-182 interchange.
The wreck left the eastbound lanes closed for several hours and snarled traffic heading into the after-work commute.
Benton County Coroner Bill Leach told the Herald that Vasquez Reyes was in the front passenger seat and wearing a seat belt. She died at the scene.
A 17-year-old male passenger, who has not been identified, was also hurt in the crash.
Romero and the other teen were taken to a local hospital. Romero had severe injuries, and the other teen was treated for minor injuries, WSP Trooper Chris Thorson told the Herald.
Romero could be facing charges, according to the WSP crash report.
Thorson said that state patrol investigators are interviewing multiple witnesses and the surviving passenger to come to determine what happened before a charging recommendation is sent to prosecutors.
He said it may be a week or two before the investigation is wrapped up.
This was the second fatal wreck on Highway 240 in the past week. The other happened about 17 miles north of Richland Sunday morning.
The driver in that crash, Jorge Procopio Marcelino, 22, is in the Benton County jail on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter.
Investigators believe he was drunk and possibly on depressants when he crashed his Toyota Scion around 2:30 a.m., killing one of his passengers, Florentino Jacinto Santos, 30, of Mattawa.
