Hermiston man killed, woman injured in Highway 14 crash

A Hermiston man died early this morning and a woman was injured after their SUV ran into a semi-trailer that pulled in front of them on Highway 14 just west of the interchange with Interstate 82.

Alfredo S. Rivera, 69, died at the scene, said a release from the Washington State Patrol. Passenger Manuela M. Rivera, 64, also of Hermiston, was injured and taken by helicopter to Kadlec Regional Medical Center. Her status was not immediately available.

Alfredo Rivera was driving west on Highway 14 just after 5:30 a.m. when a Freightliner semi-truck and trailer driven by Pablo G. Cancino, 48, of Hermiston, went to turn east onto the highway from a private road.

The SUV was totalled in the collision while the semi-truck was driven from the scene. State patrol said Cancino failed to yield and that charges are pending.

The crash closed the state highway for more than two hours, with both lanes not being restored until after 8:30 a.m. One driver told the Herald that traffic was backed up for miles.

This story was originally published October 10, 2015 at 1:50 PM with the headline "Hermiston man killed, woman injured in Highway 14 crash."