Subaru, potato truck collision leads to injuries
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 years, 2 months AGO
Three people were injured in a collision that resulted in a vehicle fire east of Moses Lake Monday.
Courtesy photo/Grant County Sheriff’s Office
Joel Martin has been with the Columbia Basin Herald for more than 25 years in a variety of roles and is the most-tenured employee in the building. Martin is a married father of eight and enjoys spending time with his children and his wife, Christina. He is passionate about the paper’s mission of informing the people of the Columbia Basin because he knows it is important to record the history of the communities the publication serves. | September 26, 2023 5:42 PM
MOSES LAKE — Three people were transported to the hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries after their car caught fire in a collision Monday afternoon.
Simon Simons, 48, of Wilbur and his passenger Erika Simons, also 48, of Wilbur were driving south in a 2021 Subaru Outback on Road W Northeast just east of Moses Lake at about 5 p.m., according to Grant County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman. Simons ran the stop sign at Road 3 Northeast at about 55 miles per hour and was struck by a 2008 Peterbilt 386 loaded with potatoes and driven by Jesus Munoz Chacon, 37, of Warden.
The Peterbilt jackknifed, Foreman said, and the Subaru bounced off it and landed on the south shoulder of Road 3 and caught fire. The Simonses were able to escape the burning vehicle with non-life-threatening injuries related to the collision but not the fire. Chacon complained of lower back pain. All three were transported to Samaritan Hospital.
“It could have been a lot worse,” Foreman said. “It was very lucky the occupants were able to get out of the burning car."
ARTICLES BY JOEL MARTIN
‘Our favorite time of year’
Shop with a Cop brings smiles to both children and officers
MOSES LAKE — The heavy police presence outside local stores recently wasn’t because of a crime wave. It was police officers engaging in their favorite annual event. “This is one of those times throughout the year that we don't have to go and ask for volunteers to help,” said Moses Lake Police Chief David Sands. “The first day we put it out, I think we got 20-some people say ‘Yeah, we’re in.’ That's just under half the department right away.“
BASIN EVENTS: Dec. 19-27
COLUMBIA BASIN — It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and a lot of people will be spending time at home with their families or at the church of their choice. Still, there are a few things happening around the Basin. Here are some ideas:
Chimney maintenance is essential for safety
MOSES LAKE — With Christmas just around the corner, lots of folks are using their fireplaces for warmth, roasting chestnuts or just a pleasant atmosphere. But before Santa pays your chimney a visit, you should make sure it’s in good working order. Chimney fires are responsible for more than three-fourths of residential building heating fires, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. Regular inspections and cleaning are the best way to prevent that, said Michael Harper, known as The Chimney Guy. “If they’re using (the fireplace) aesthetically – date night, Christmas, New Year’s, show-off times, something in the background here and there, (they should) have it inspected once a year for peace of mind,” Harper said. “If they’re using it two to three days a week religiously through the winter months, they need to have it cleaned once a year.”