3-year-old hurt in distracted driving crash in east Kennewick

A toddler ended up at a hospital after the car she was riding in was hit by a distracted driver just after 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Washington State Patrol investigators say Michelle Rodrigue of Kennewick, wasn’t paying attention to the road as she headed south on Highway 397 in her Kia Sorento.

Just south of East 25th Avenue, Rodriguez, 39, slammed into the back of a Honda Accord that had stopped to make a left turn onto a private driveway.

A 3-year-old girl in the Honda was taken to Trios Southridge Hospital.

Rodriguez, her passenger and the Honda’s driver, Shamae Orosco, 33, of Kennewick, were not hurt.

Investigators cited Rodriguez for negligent driving and driving while being distracted, but didn’t say why she took her eyes off the road.