Paterson, WA : Two men killed in a head-on collision on Highway 14 near Paterson on Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Two men from Oregon were killed in a head-on collision between a semi-truck and a car that temporarily closed Highway 14 between Paterson and Plymouth on Wednesday.

The highway reopened seven hours later.

Ramiro Valdez, 29, of Umatilla, Ore., and Pedro Santiago-Menchu, 37, of Hermiston, Ore., both died in the collision, according to the Washington State Patrol.

They were passengers in a silver 2001 Chrysler minivan driven west by Alfredo B. Perez, 48, of Umatilla, Ore.

At 5:45 a.m. Perez allegedly tried to pass a vehicle and struck a red 2014 Kenworth semi-truck pulling a utility trailer driven by Able Garcia, 37, of Toppenish.

Perez was injured and taken to Kadlec Regional Medical Center and remained in critical condition on Wednesday evening, said Jim Hall, spokesman for Kadlec.

Garcia was not injured.

Freezing fog creating low visibility may have contributed to the collision, but the official cause remains under investigation, said Trooper Chris Thorson.

Source :
Highway 14 reopens after fatal head-on collision near Paterson