Semi Crashes into Ravine, Causes Delays

A semi hauling an empty trailer caused westbound I-82 south of Ellensburg to be partially blocked most of the day Wednesday after the driver lost control.

Trooper John Bryant said it was just before 5:00 am when 29-year-old Ray Juarez-Perez likely blew one or more tires, causing the semi he was driving to go off of the road. The semi he was driving then traveled through a guardrail and down into a very steep ravine.

"As it was going through the guardrail, the hood and some of the parts from the front of the semi went off and into the roadway, which caused a couple of vehicles behind it to get flat tires." explained Bryant, "So that was unfortunate."

The semi traveled down the slope about 200 feet, never rolling over. Juarez-Perez was uninjured, and charges are pending an inspection of the vehicle.