Rollover crash sparks brush fire, blocks State Route 730 in Walla Walla County
By Dan Thesman on Saturday, June 13th, 2026 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
WALLULA — A high-speed police pursuit Saturday night ended in a fiery rollover crash that has escalated into a significant wildfire emergency, prompting the mobilization of state fire assistance near Highway 730.
The incident began Saturday, June 13, when Washington State Patrol (WSP) Troopers attempted to stop a vehicle operating at excessive and dangerous speeds. The suspect vehicle fled from troopers at a high rate of speed. WSP Troopers ultimately terminated the pursuit after the suspect vehicle nearly caused a head-on collision.
Shortly after the chase was called off, the suspect vehicle rolled over, crashed, and caught fire on a hillside along State Route 730, igniting the surrounding brush.
WSP Trooper Chadwick Williams confirmed two people were inside the vehicle: a 22-year-old male driver and a 25-year-old female passenger. Both were transported to area hospitals, the driver to Providence St. Mary Medical Center in Walla Walla and the passenger to Lourdes Health in Pasco for treatment. Following medical evaluation, the driver, Salvador Estrada Guevara of Stanfield, Oregon, was booked into the Walla Walla County Jail.
Fire Growth and Emergency Response
What began as a localized vehicle fire has quickly spread into a 3,600-acre grass and brush fire. The blaze now poses a direct threat to homes and critical infrastructure in the area, forcing officials to trigger Level 1 (“Get Ready”) and Level 3 (“Go Now”) evacuation orders for nearby residents.
To combat the rapidly evolving situation, the State Emergency Operations Center has been activated to coordinate additional resources, and two wildland strike teams have been deployed to assist local crews on the front lines.
Traffic Impacts
Authorities closed portions of Highway 730 as crews worked to contain the blaze. The Washington State Department of Transportation reopened both directions of the highway at 3:23 p.m. Sunday.
The WSP investigation into the collision and subsequent pursuit is ongoing.
Photo courtesy Brooklyn Randall
