Woman killed in crash on I-182 in Pasco. Teen suspected of DUI
A woman is dead after a teen driver lost control of his pickup on Interstate 182 in Pasco and struck her car on Friday night, according to the Washington State Patrol.
Maria C. Mendoza, 57, of Grandview, was driving a Buick Encore SUV and died before she could be taken to a hospital.
The teen, Pedro Andres Ruiz, 18, of Othello, is suspected of driving under the influence, according to the WSP.
He was booked into the Franklin County jail on suspicion of negligent vehicular homicide and attempt to elude at 11 p.m. Friday, according to jail records.
At about 7:45 p.m. Friday Ruiz was driving a Ford F-150 pickup west near the North Fourth Avenue exit.
His truck left the highway and rolled over the cable barrier into eastbound traffic, colliding with Mendoza’s car, according to the WSP.
Ruiz was treated by first responders at the scene, said the WSP. Both drivers were wearing seat belts.
Interstate 182 eastbound lanes were closed, and westbound traffic was reduced to a single lane while the WSP investigated. Traffic did not return to normal until about 2:30 a.m. Saturday.
This story was originally published February 7, 2026 at 10:51 AM.