Warden man killed in early morning crash

OTHELLO — A Warden man was killed early this morning, Friday, March 26, in a three-vehicle crash on state Highway 17 in Grant County.

Froylan D. Valdivia, 57, of Warden, died at the scene before sunrise.

The drivers of two other vehicles were injured and transported to an area hospital.

The conditions of Abel Juarez Avila, 30, of Connell, and Arturo R. Fernandez, 26, of Ephrata, were not immediately available.

Valdivia's 2000 Chevrolet didn't have any lights turned on at the time of the pre-dawn crash at 4:47 a.m., the Washington State Patrol reported.

The crash occurred when northbound Valdivia slowed to make a left turn and was struck from behind by Avila's 2005 Peterbilt truck, the patrol said, noting the cause of the crash was a lack of lights on Valdivia's Chevy.

The impact pushed Valdivia's vehicle into the path of a soutbound Ford F-350 pickup, driven by Fernandez, the patrol said.

The second impact sent Valdavia's vehicle onto the southbound shoulder, where the F-350 also came to rest, the patrol said. Avila's truck came to rest blocking the highway.