Two hurt in wreck that closes Ephrata-Soap Lake highway
Cars came to rest blocking northbound and center turn lanes.
Editor's note: this article was updated on Thursday, Feb. 19, to reflect the medical condition of one of the drivers.
EPHRATA — Two drivers were injured late Wednesday afternoon in a two-car collision that closed a portion of State Route 28 between Ephrata and Soap Lake to through traffic for several hours.
The Washington State Patrol identified the drivers as 42-year-old Jose F. Machado Ayala and 18-year-old Ginger L. Calderon-Goodman, both of Soap Lake.
Machado Ayala was transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. On Thursday morning (Feb. 19), he was listed in critical condition in the intensive care unit.
Calderon-Goodman was taken to Columbia Basin Hospital in Ephrata for treatment of unspecified injuries. Both were wearing seatbelts, the WSP report said.
Troopers said Machado Ayala was driving south on the highway approaching the intersection of Road A-NW when his 2008 Nissan Versa hatchback went off the roadway to the right. He overcorrected and the car veered back left into the northbound lane where it struck an oncoming 2016 Dodge Dart driven by Calderon-Goodman.
The two cars, which were totaled, came to rest blocking the northbound and center turn lanes.
The collision was reported at 3:55 p.m.
It was unknown whether alcohol or drugs may have been a factor in the wreck, the WSP report stated. Unspecified charges are pending against Machado Ayala.
