Four crashes on Highway 17 have law enforcement concerned

OTHELLO – Four traffic incidents including four fatalities and one serious injury occurred on Highway 17 between Moses Lake and Othello in just over a week.

The Washington State Patrol, Grant County Sheriff’s Office and the Central Basin Target Zero Manager for the Washington Traffic Safety Commission are looking into what steps need to be taken to keep drivers safe in that area, according to Trooper John Bryant.

Allison Mitchell, Central Basin Target Zero Manager put out requests on social media for citizens to comment or offer workable ideas.

“You can help. Community input is important,” Mitchell posted on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. “What would you like to see done on Hwy 17 to improve safety?”

Mitchell mentioned infrastructure, barriers, signs, more patrols and/or lower speed limits as possible areas to approach. The first public comment asked for more patrols focusing on distracted driving, with people using their cell phones while behind the wheel. The second commenter agreed, stating it was difficult to avoid being hit by someone on a cell phone while driving Hwy. 17.

Whatever the reason, Felix Rodriguez Martinez, 74, was charged with failure to yield the right of way when the vehicle he was driving began to cross Hwy 17, traveling eastbound on Cunningham Road shortly after 4 p.m. June 20. He struck a vehicle traveling southbound on Hwy. 17, near milepost 29.

Martinez was airlifted to Sacred Heart Medical Center, where he was pronounced deceased. His passenger, Rosalva Pelayogonzalez, 68, was transported by private vehicle to Othello Hospital. Both Martinez and Pelayogonzalez are from Othello.

The driver of the second vehicle, Marco A. Pena of Othello, was not injured, but his passenger, Nirma Z. Pena, was transported to Othello Hospital.

Three previous incidents on Hwy. 17, between milepost 47 and 35, also involved fatalities.

Delbert M. Chase, 84, failed to yield the right of way to a vehicle traveling northbound on Hwy 17 June 19 around noon, when Chase was traveling westbound on Road 2 SE and stopped for traffic at Hwy 17, according to WSP reports. The driver of the vehicle Chase struck was not injured, but Chase and his passenger, Jacquelyn J Chase, 82, were transported to Samaritan Hospital. Delbert Chase, of Moses Lake, was pronounced deceased at the hospital.

Jason B. Nicely, 46, of Gold Bar, was killed in a one vehicle rollover shortly before 3 p.m. June 13. Nicely was traveling southbound on Hwy 17 when his vehicle left the roadway at milepost 35, struck a driveway, vaulted, rolled and came to rest on its top in a field.

The previous day, Brian K Roberts, 58, of Grandview was killed when the motorcycle he was driving struck the rear of a Honda Accord. According to WSP reports, Roberts and Mario P. Poncemartinez, 24, were both traveling southbound on Hwy 17, approaching Road 6 SE at milepost 41. Poncemartinez was stopped to wait for oncoming traffic before making a left turn when Roberts ran into him. Poncemartinez, whose city of residence is listed as unknown, was charged with no valid operators license with ID. Poncemartinez was not injured, but Roberts was declared deceased at the scene.

– Comments can be made to Mitchell via Twitter@cbsttfTZM, or through the Columbia Basin Target Zero Instagram and Facebook accounts.