Man arrested for vehicular assault after collision on U.S. 12
By Dan Thesman on Monday, October 21st, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
WALLA WALLA COUNTY – A Milton-Freewater man was booked into the Walla Walla County Jail Monday night on suspicion of felony vehicular assault following a two-vehicle collision which injured four people on eastbound U.S. 12 at milepost 314 in Nine Mile Canyon, four miles west of Touchet, earlier in the day.
Rodolfo R. Ceja, 41, was traveling westbound when his 2000 Chevy Tahoe crossed the centerline and struck a 2022 Ford Transit van driven by Agustin Valdivia, 27, of Richland head on. Both vehicles were totaled in the collision that occurred at 1:25 p.m.
Valdivia, who was traveling alone, sustained injuries. Ceja and his two female passengers, Kierra L. Beltran Pierce, 19, of Walla Walla and Alice E. Sumerlin, 34, of Milton-Freewater were also injured. No further details on their conditions or injuries were released.
The Washington State Patrol said Ceja was transported to Providence St. Mary Medical Center in Walla Walla. Everyone else was transported to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland.
The cause of the collision is under investigation, however, WSP said drugs or alcohol were involved.
Photo via Washington State Patrol
