19-year-old accused of killing motorcyclist in DUI crash in Kennewick

A 19-year-old woman is accused of killing a Burbank motorcyclist in a Sunday night crash near downtown Kennewick.

Valeria R. Benitez-Hernandez was allegedly drunk when she hit a motorcyclist near the corner of Columbia Drive and Jean Street about 8 p.m., Kennewick police said in a Facebook post.

The intersection is near the on-ramps for Highway 240 and Highway 395 east of the blue bridge, just south of the Columbia River near Overturf Volkswagen.

Police and paramedics were unable to revive Donald “Garth” Rettinghouse, 69, said Kennewick police.

Officer Izayah Darby said Benitez-Hernandez and a passenger were traveling on Columbia Drive and Rettinghouse was driving on Jean Street before they collided.

More information about what happened was not immediately available Monday morning.

Benton County jail records show Benitez-Hernandez was booked on suspicion of vehicular homicide.

Kennewick police said they are continuing to investigate and are asking anyone with information to contact detectives using the non-emergency dispatch number at 509-628-0333 or online at www.kpdtips.com.

This story was originally published July 13, 2026 at 11:46 AM.