Kennewick teen seriously hurt, airlifted to hospital after rollover crash

A 17-yer-old Kennewick teen needed to be airlifted to a Tri-Cities hospital after crashing his car near Othello on Saturday.

The Washington State Patrol said the teen, whose name was not released, was driving south on Highway 17 when he lost control of the Kia Optima about 1 a.m.

He drove off the southbound shoulder, overcorrected and crossed the center line into the northbound lane of the two-lane highway.

The Optima flipped, landing back on its wheels on the northbound shoulder about seven miles southeast of Othello, said the WSP.

The teen was not wearing a seat belt and was flown to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland.

This story was originally published January 11, 2026 at 1:20 PM.