A pickup truck crossed into oncoming traffic and struck a semi-truck before another big rig slammed into it moments later, killing 32-year-old passenger Jamaica Castro. The deadly three-vehicle collision happened Wednesday evening, November 4, on State Route 24 near Moxee, Washington.
The Washington State Patrol said the crash occurred around 6:14 p.m. near Morrier Lane. Castro was riding in a 2024 Chevrolet Silverado traveling eastbound when the pickup entered the westbound lane and collided with a 2011 Volvo VN semi-truck.
The first collision was not the end of the crash. A second semi-truck, a 2003 Peterbilt 379, struck the pickup after it had collided with the Volvo. Both semi-trucks were pulling two trailers, making the collision involve three large vehicles.
Castro, 32, of Wapato, was a passenger in the Chevrolet Silverado. She suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene. Her death turned what was already a serious highway collision into a devastating loss for her family and everyone close to her.
The pickup’s driver, 35-year-old Cristian M. González, survived but sustained injuries. Emergency responders took him to MultiCare Yakima Memorial Hospital for medical treatment.
The second semi-truck’s driver, 46-year-old Jaime Contreras, who also lives in Wapato, was injured and transported to the same hospital. The driver of the Volvo, 21-year-old Héctor Altamirano, also of Wapato, was the only driver reported to have escaped without injuries.
Investigators have ruled out intoxicants as a factor in the collision. However, the exact circumstances that caused the Chevrolet Silverado to cross into the path of the oncoming Volvo remain unclear.
The Washington State Patrol is still investigating the crash. Authorities have also confirmed that charges against the pickup’s driver are pending. No final determination about the cause of the collision has been announced.
While investigators work to establish exactly what happened, Jamaica Castro’s family is left dealing with the loss of a 32-year-old woman whose life ended in a matter of moments. Two other people were injured, but for her loved ones, the consequences of that Wednesday evening crash will reach far beyond the highway where it happened.
Leave a Reply