Driver in Highway 395-Foster Wells Road Crash Dies in Spokane

The Washington State Patrol indicates it could be at least two to four weeks before concrete details are released about a fatal crash north of Pasco.

Last Sunday, a Hyundai Elantra was traveling westbound on Foster Wells Road, apparently being or just having been pursued by a Franklin County Sheriff's Deputy.

A short time later, the car sped into the intersection with Highway 395, and WSP officials say a southbound semi slammed into the passenger's side door.

The impact killed 23-year-old Karlie Moore, she died instantly in the 4:15PM crash. The driver, 28-year-old Ricky G. Cruz of Pasco, was airlifted to Sacred Heart Medical Center, but died Tuesday, say officials. Authorities did not release any specifics about the nature of his injuries.

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Neither person was wearing their seatbelt. No further details about why there was apparently a pursuit have been released. No word if the car stopped at the stop sign, or just sped straight through, but the semi-truck destroyed the car. The semi driver, Harold Matuterivera, 40, of Milton Freewater, was not hurt; surprisingly his truck did not sustain tremendous damage.

It appears the smaller car slammed under the mainframe of the truck, hitting the bumper and wheel area. A picture of the vehicle in the Tri-City Herald shows the passenger door badly smashed inward.

The Herald reports what's left of the car is in the WSP Impound area, behind a locked storage fence at their regional headquarters just south of Kennewick.

The investigation continues.