Collision Between Apple Truck and Passenger Car Shuts Down US 97

State Route 97 just south of Pateros is back open after a collision between a passenger car and a semi truck hauling empty apple bins blocked most of the road for about 2 1/2 hours Wednesday afternoon.

Trooper John Bryant said the accident happened around 12:30 pm.

"The passenger car struck the trailer of the semi-tractor-trailer combination. It kind of knocked the trailer off the connection to the tractor and that went on its side, blocking the northbound lane." explained Bryant, "The passenger car went into the southbound ditch, trapping both occupants."

The car's two passengers, both 19-year-old men, were eventually extricated from the vehicle with only minor injuries. The semi-driver was uninjured.

A citation is likely for the car's driver, Nacimo Adan, but nothing has been announced yet by the Washington State Patrol.