Woman dies, granddaughter hurt in Amazon semi crash on Highway 240 in Richland

A Richland woman was killed and girl hurt after a semi driver ran a red light on Highway 240 at Duportail Street in Richland, according to the Washington State Patrol.

Micheal Tekeste Asgodom, 46, of Shoreline, Wash., was driving a semi hauling an Amazon trailer north on the Highway 240 bypass about 8:30 p.m. Friday, according to WSP.

He failed to stop at the intersection and crashed into a Subaru Outback driven by Teresa J. Weers, 58, of Richland. She was headed southwest on Duportail Street just east of the bridge over the Yakima River, according to WSP. She died before she could be taken to a hospital.

Also in the car was a girl, who family members said on Facebook was Weers’ 8-year-old granddaughter.

The girl was taken to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland, and her mother, Samantha Leskovar, posted Sunday morning on Facebook that her daughter was recovering.

Family members arrived at the intersection shortly after the crash looking for her.

She and the semi driver, who was not hurt, were wearing seatbelts, but WSP said Weers was not.

Charges are pending against Asgodom, according to WSP. Investigators said no drugs or alcohol were involved in the accident.

Westbound lanes of Highway 240 were closed until about 1 a.m. Saturday as WSP investigated.

It was the second fatal crash in the Tri-Cities on Friday night. A motorcyclist was killed in Kennewick in a crash about 8:40 p.m.

This story was originally published June 20, 2026 at 7:25 AM.