OTHELLO — An Othello woman was injured and charges are pending against a Moses Lake man following a head-on collision near Othello Saturday evening. An Othello man was injured when his car was hit while he was directing traffic at the scene after the initial crash.

According to a press release from the Washington State Patrol, Demetrio Robles, 19, of Moses Lake, was driving north on State Route 17 about two miles north of Othello when he crossed the centerline and ran head-on into a vehicle driven by Nancy Cortes, 44. The collision occurred at about 8:30 p.m.

Both Cortes and a passenger in her vehicle, Aquilino Cortes, 47, Othello, were injured and taken to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland.

Robles initially fled the scene on foot but was found after a search, the WSP memo said. Charges of felony hit and run, driving with a suspended license and driving without a required ignition interlock are pending.

Charges of negligent driving are pending against an Othello woman who hit an Othello Police Department car that was directing traffic at the scene.

The second collision occurred at about 9:40 p.m. at the crash scene. The OPD vehicle was stopped in the roadway, directing traffic around the scene at Foley Road. The law enforcement vehicle had emergency lights on, according to a WSP press memo.

Divanely Alvarado Hernandez, 20, was driving south on SR 17 and hit the OPD vehicle while it was parked on the road. Bryan Jacobson, 30, was injured in the collision and was transported to Othello Community Hospital.

Jeremy Weber, WSP public information officer, said the volume of traffic on SR 17, especially between Moses Lake and Othello, means drivers should be alert while out on that road. That’s true even — and maybe especially — for people who drive it frequently.

“We have to be alert,” Weber said. “Always have that ‘what-if’ scenario in your head.”

The section of SR 17 between Moses Lake and Othello seems to have a high volume of collisions, Weber said, which makes it even more important for people to pay attention to road and traffic conditions.

“We always have to be on the defensive,” he said.

Among other things, that means putting down the phone.

“We have a huge problem with distracted driving,” Weber said.

He’s seen people driving through a scene and filming it on the phone, he said, and has cited people for negligent driving as a result.

The WSP does encourage people to report drivers who appear to be a danger to others, even while they’re on the road.

“We do rely on the motoring public,” he said.