Accident near Washtucna sends one to hospital

A two-vehicle collision occurred Monday, July 16 on SR 26 and Gray Road, eight miles east of Washtucna. David Turrubiates, a 31-year-old from Tucson, Ariz., was driving eastbound when his 2010 Ford F150 was struck from behind.

Roberta Johnson, a 28-year-old Spokane resident, was the driver of the second vehicle and the collision sent her car into the guardrail before it came to rest on Gray Road.

Washington State Patrol troopers Matt Fehler and Dean Burt responded to the scene with Adams County Fire department. Medstar was unable to launch due to weather, and Colfax dispatched an advanced life support emergency transport.

According to report from the Spokane WSP Communications department, Johnson admitted to Trooper Fehler that she was under the influence of meth. She sustained injuries in the collision and was transported to Whitman Community Hospital and then transferred to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane.

Both drivers were using restraints when the accident occurred and Turrubiates did not receive any injuries from the collision.

He was able to drive his vehicle from the scene while Johnson’s 1995 Mitsubishi Mirage was impounded.

The cause of the crash has been determined to be a DUI, but charges are still pending at this time.