Update: Kahlotus councilman killed at dangerous Hwy 395 crossing

A 77-year-old Kahlotus councilman died in a collision north of Pasco early Tuesday.

Washington State Patrol troopers and fire crews were dispatched to a two-car crash near Highway 395 and East Vineyard Road around 6:30 a.m.

Perrie N. Robitaille was headed east on Vineyard Drive in a white sedan when he failed to yield for traffic on the highway and was hit by a northbound SUV, said the state patrol.

Robitaille is a Kahlotus city councilman, according to public records. His family has a long history of service to the city.

He is the father of current Mayor Michael Robitaille. His late wife Marcia Robitaille also served on the council.

A trooper who was near the intersection at the time of the crash found Robitaille unresponsive, Trooper Daniel Mosqueda told the Herald.

The trooper started CPR, but Robitaille died at the scene.

The driver of the SUV, Kalil C. Yandall, 37, of Temecula, Calif., was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries, Mosqueda said.

Mosqueda stressed that drivers should keep safety in mind during the busy Thanksgiving travel week.

Drivers should increase following distance between the vehicle in front of them, give more time to get from point A to B and wait until intersections are fully cleared before proceeding.

Dangerous intersections

In late 2023, Luis Acosta Hernandez, 23, was killed at the same intersection when he failed to yield to traffic while trying to cross the highway.

Several people have been killed in wrecks at other intersections on the stretch of Highway 395 just north of Pasco this year.

In August, a Richland mother and her teen daughter were killed at Highway 395 and Foster Wells Road. Rafaela Alquicira Huipio, 50, was driving west on Foster Wells Road when she attempted to cross the highway. She cleared the northbound lanes, but did not yield to southbound traffic, WSP said.

She and her daughter, Yureli Ontiveros Alquicira, 17, died at the scene.

Less than two weeks later Patricia Wallum, 73, of Vancouver, Wash., was attempting to cross the highway at the intersection with Crestloch Road when she failed to yield while attempting a left turn across the northbound lanes of the highway. She was struck by an SUV and died at a local hospital.

This story was originally published November 25, 2025 at 9:18 AM.