Wrong-way, late-night crash on Highway 240 sends 3 to the hospital in Richland

Three people were injured and Highway 240 was partially closed late Friday night after an SUV was driving in the wrong lanes on the Richland causeway, according to a Washington State Patrol report.

Ricardo Arroyos, 24, of Pasco, was driving a Ford Explorer north toward Richland in the southbound lanes of the highway across the Yakima River delta just south of the Interstate 182 interchange, according to the state patrol.

Drugs or alcohol may have been a factor, according to WSP reports.

Arroyos’s SUV hit a Nissan Versa headed south toward Kennewick on the divided highway about 11 p.m.

The two drivers and Arroyos’ passenger — Samantha Bounds, 21, of Benton City, were all taken by ambulance to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland. The other driver was Eduard Ballesteros Morales, 35, of Kennewick.

Neither Arroyos nor Bounds were wearing seat belts, said the WSP.

Their conditions were not immediately available Saturday. Both cars were totaled.

Charges pending against Arroyos, according to the WSP.

Both southbound lanes were closed until around 4:50 a.m., according to the Washington state Department of Transportation.