2 pileups happen within minutes during Richland rush hour traffic

A pair of rush hour pileups in Richland left two people hurt, damaged seven cars and slowed traffic along Interstate 182 and Highway 240.

The first happened just before 5:20 p.m. Wednesday when Robert M. Montes, 50, of Kennewick, didn’t brake his Toyota pickup fast enough for a car slowing ahead of him on Highway 240 near the bypass intersection.

He hit a Dodge Challenger, which crashed into a Honda Pilot that was stopped, the Washington State Patrol said. .

Montes was treated at Kadlec Regional Medical Center. The two other drivers Rosalinda R Martin, 42, of Richland, and April B Manning, 41, of Richland, were not hurt. Montes was cited for negligent driving, illegally using studded tires and not having insurance.

Minutes later at the Queengate Drive exit on Interstate 182, Zachary Luther, 39, of Pasco, was driving a Dodge Grand Caravan west on the interstate, when traffic in front of him slowed.

The minivan hit a Kia Sorento in front of him and set off a chain of crashes that damaged four cars. Luther was cited for driving too closely.

Luther’s passenger, Andrea R. Luther, 38, of Pasco, was treated at Kadlec in Richland.

Luther and the other drivers, Julia L Ruiz, 18, of Kennewick, Kira M. Veliz, 22, of West Richland, Mechelle F. Vandervert, 54, of West Richland, were not hurt.