Collision Between Passenger Car and Potato Truck Shuts Down SR17, 8-year-old LifeFlighted

A two vehicle collision between a passenger car and a truck hauling potatoes on State Route 17 just after 9:00 am Wednesday morning closed the highway for just over three hours.

State Patrol Trooper John Bryant said the accident occurred about 7 miles south of Moses Lake near Road 4 SE. Bryant stated that the area has seen several bad collisions in the last few months.

"They were harvesting in a field that was to the west of the roadway." said Bryant, "The trucks were coming in and out. All day long they've been doing it, even during the investigation there were coming in and out. It's just that time of year for them to do it. The potato truck was taking a left turn onto a farm road and from behind they were struck by a smaller 1993 Nissan Sentra."

The driver of the Nissan, 27-year-old Isabel Ramirez of Moses Lake, was transported by ambulance to Samaritan Hospital. Her 8-year-old daughter was taken via LifeFlight to Sacred Heart Children's Hospital in Spokane.

The status of either occupant of the Nissan is unknown. The truck driver, 68-year-old Rosalio Perez of Othello, was uninjured.