A 22-year-old Quincy man was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after his sedan crossed the centre line on State Route 17 near Moses Lake on Wednesday evening and struck an oncoming pickup truck, injuring four people and temporarily closing part of the highway, the Washington State Patrol said.

Source: Grant County Journal — Washington State Patrol report

The crash was reported at about 7:30 p.m. on November 12 near the intersection of McConihe Road NE, about three miles north of Moses Lake in Grant County. Troopers said Samuel A. Gonzalez, 22, of Quincy, was driving south in a 2020 Nissan Altima when the sedan crossed the centre line and struck a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado pickup driven by Karmen M. Andrews, 50, of Moses Lake, who was travelling in the opposite direction.

Both vehicles were totalled and came to rest blocking the highway lanes, according to the patrol's report. A portion of State Route 17 was temporarily closed while troopers investigated the scene.

Four people hurt, both drivers taken to hospital

Both drivers sustained unspecified injuries and were transported to Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake. Two 13-year-old girls who were riding as passengers in the Nissan were also hurt, but did not require medical transport, the report stated. The girls are identified by age only; no names of the young passengers were released.

The patrol's report noted one detail troopers record in every serious crash: Andrews was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision, while Gonzalez was not.

Arrest and the allegations

After his release from hospital, Gonzalez was booked into the Grant County Jail on suspicion of driving under the influence, driving with a suspended licence, two counts of reckless endangerment, and an outstanding district court warrant, troopers said. These are allegations at this stage: he has not been convicted of anything in connection with the crash, and formal charging decisions rest with prosecutors after they review the patrol's investigation.

Why SR-17 matters in the Columbia Basin

State Route 17 is one of Grant County's main north–south routes. It links Moses Lake with Ephrata and Soap Lake to the north and runs south toward Othello, carrying a heavy mix of farm traffic, freight trucks and commuters through the Columbia Basin. An evening closure on this corridor quickly pushes traffic onto smaller county roads, which is why troopers worked to clear and document the scene the same night.

What happens next

Gonzalez is expected to face a first court appearance in Grant County, where a judge will address the booking allegations and the outstanding warrant. The State Patrol's investigation into the crash itself continues, and its findings will go to prosecutors for any formal charges.