Four Vehicle Accident Shuts Down Highway 2, Sends Several to Hospital

A semi traveling too fast for conditions caused a four vehicle accident just after 3:30 Tuesday afternoon on Highway 2 just north of East Wenatchee.

According to the state patrol, 20-year-old Bryce A Mallet of Newman Lake, Washington was driving a semi westbound on Highway 2 when traffic began to slow to avoid a partially blocking disabled vehicle. The semi slammed into a 2011 Ford Crown Victoria, sending the Ford into a 2015 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class.

The semi then continued into the eastbound lane, striking a 2004 Lincoln Aviator head-on.

Twelve people were involved in the accident. All five occupants of the Lincoln were injured enough to be transported to the hospital. Four were sent to Central Washington Hospital, while a fifth was airlifted to Harborview Medial Center.

The accident shut down Highway 2 for about four hours. A street sweeper was brought in before the highway could be reopened to clean up a fuel spill that resulted from the collision.

Mallet was cited for speeding too fast for conditions. Drugs and alcohol were not a factor.