News Update

POSTED: Monday, Nov. 09, 2009

Kennewick teen dies when car falls off Richland bridge

RICHLAND — A car plunged off the Interstate 182 bridge over the Yakima River in Richland on Sunday morning, killing a 16-year-old Kennewick boy.

The 11 a.m. accident also injured three members of the teen's family.

While Terry Olivera, 20 and Ignacio R. Olivera, 48, were treated and released from Kadlec Regional Medical Center, Antonio Olivera, 21, had surgery at Kadlec and was listed in stable condition late Sunday.

Joevani, 16, who was seated in the back of the car, died at the scene.

His sister, Terry, was driving east in a black Honda Accord when she lost control while trying to pass another vehicle, said the Washington State Patrol.

The Olivera family were in two cars returning home to Kennewick from Yakima where they had gone for a family event, said state patrol Sgt. Roger Wilbur.

Preliminary investigations show Terry Olivera tried to move to the left lane to pass a Jeep Cherokee but hit the back of the Jeep and lost control, Wilbur said.

The Jeep spun around, pinching the Accord between the Jeep and the barrier, Wilbur said.

The Accord scraped along the concrete barrier for about 100 feet before popping over it and plunging more than 30 feet to the riverbank below.

The car apparently landed on its right rear side, twisted and spun on its roof and came to a halt on the walkway below the bridge, Wilbur said.

CJ Miller and his friend Jake Abken, both of Kennewick, were in the nearby Chamna Natural Preserve parking lot.

"We had unloaded our bikes and were eating sandwiches," Miller said. "We were looking toward the I-182 and saw a car flip over. There was huge sound before the car hit the ground."

They rushed underneath the bridge to help. Fearing the car might tumble into the water, Miller took off his sweatshirt and shirt as he was running.

They pulled open the crushed door to get to Terry Olivera. "She looked very confused," said Miller who wrapped his sweatshirt around her and called 911. "We tried to comfort her."

Abken helped Olivera's father, Ignacio, get out of the front seat. He "was a little shook up," said Abken, adding that Ignacio spoke only Spanish and they had trouble communicating with him.

Other drivers and Olivera family members watched horrified from the deck of the bridge above.

Miller and Abken said the tragedy left them shaken. "We both broke down and cried," Miller said.

Wilbur said an unsafe lane change is likely to blame for the crash. Alcohol or drugs were not a factor, he said.

The driver of the Jeep, Kenneth R. Sump, of Richland, told state patrol that he was doing about 55 mph to 60 mph, getting ready to take the next exit before he was hit by the Accord. Sump, 68, and his wife Sharron, 64, were not hurt.

Everyone in both cars were wearing seat belts, the state patrol said.