Young people seriously hurt as SUV crashes on ice-covered HWY 395 at Connell

An SUV carrying teens crashed and rolled multiple times early Sunday morning on Highway 395, and one person was flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with serious injuries.

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office posted a warning on social media about 90 minutes before the crash comparing Highway 395 north of Mesa to a skating rink. Deputies had already responded to or happened upon three accidents on the highway.

Shortly after 1 a.m. Sunday, a Chevrolet Blazer being driven south on the highway left the pavement at the Connell interchange and rolled until it came to rest up an embankment, according to the Washington State Patrol.

The SUV was driven by a juvenile who was not named by the WSP.

The driver and two 18-year-old passengers — Boden J. Duffield and Dallas J. Mejia, both of West Richland — were taken to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland, according to the WSP.

A third passenger, who was not named because they were younger than 18, was flown to Harborview.

All were wearing seat belts.

The driver was going too fast for conditions, according to the WSP. Drugs or alcohol were not involved.