OTHELLO – A pair of related accidents on State Route 17 at Foley Rd. north of Othello sent three to hospital and kicked off a short manhunt for a suspect.
Demitrio Robles, 19, of Othello was driving a 2017 BMW northbound on SR17 when he crossed the center line and struck a 2010 Mazda driven by Nancy Cortes, 44, of Othello. Cortes and her passenger Aquilino Cortes also of Othello were both transported to Othello Community Hospital and then airlifted by Life Flight to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland. Both vehicles came to rest on an embankment on the west side of the highway. It is not known if any of the involved persons was wearing a seatbelt.
Robles allegedly fled on foot into nearby fields, launching a search that lasted at least an hour before he was apprehended. He was arrested on charges of felony hit and run, driving while license suspended, and an ignition interlock violation.
During the investigation of the first accident, a 2005 Mercury Mariner traveling southbound on SR17 driven by 20-year-old Divanely Alvarado-Hernandez struck a 2018 Ford Explorer police cruiser occupied by OPD Seargent Brian Jacobsen. Jacobsen’s cruiser was fully marked, with emergency lights activated as it was stopped in the highway to divert traffic. The Mercury struck the cruiser on the right front. Both vehicles came to rest in the southbound lane.
Sgt. Jacobsen was transported to Othello Community Hospital for evaluation, he is believed to be OK at the time of this writing. He was wearing a seatbelt. Alvarado-Hernandez was cited for negligent driving.
