Crime

E. Washington couple dies when they pull in front of a truck on Highway 395 near Pasco

Two people died in this two truck collision Tuesday on Highway 395 just north of Pasco.
Two people died in this two truck collision Tuesday on Highway 395 just north of Pasco. Courtesy Franklin County Sheriff

A Cheney couple were killed near Pasco when they collided with a pickup truck as they tried to cross Highway 395.

The crash happened about 3 p.m. Tuesday at the crossing to the Country Mercantile store about four miles north of town.

Jeffry L. Bowes, 73, of Cheney, was driving south on the highway in a Chevy Silverado pulling a travel trailer when he made a left turn onto Crestloch Road toward the store, according to the Washington State Patrol.

He was hit in the northbound lanes by a Dodge Ram truck, also pulling a trailer.

Bowes’ wife, Debora, 66, died at the scene, and he died later at Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland.

The driver of the Ram, Daniel M. Gomez, 20, of Sunnyside, was not hurt.

All three were wearing their seat belts, said the WSP.

Two people died in this two truck collision Tuesday on Highway 395 just north of Pasco.
Two people died in this two truck collision Tuesday on Highway 395 just north of Pasco. Franklin County Fire District 3

State patrol investigators found that Bowes was at fault for failing to yield to the northbound traffic.

The intersection where Crestloch Road crosses Highway 395 for farmland access has had other serious collisions.

The most recent was in 2020 when a Ford SUV rear-ended a Buick Cascada sending both drivers to the hospital.

Three months earlier, a couple was hurt in a crash at the same intersection.

This story was originally published June 28, 2023 at 11:31 AM.

CP
Cameron Probert
Tri-City Herald
Cameron Probert covers breaking news for the Tri-City Herald, where he tries to answer reader questions about why police officers and firefighters are in your neighborhood. He studied communications at Washington State University.https://mycheckout.tri-cityherald.com/subscribe?ofrgp_id=394&g2i_or_o=Event&g2i_or_p=Reporter&cid=news_cta_0.99-1mo-15.99-on-article_202404
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