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Kennewick, WA (July 21, 2026) – Two children and two adults were hospitalized after five vehicles became involved in a chain-reaction collision on Sunday, July 19. The accident happened around 4:30 p.m. on northbound Highway 395, south of the Highway 240 interchange.
A Ford Expedition had broken down and was partly blocking a travel lane. Traffic stopped in one lane and moved slowly in the other as drivers approached the disabled SUV.
A BMW 328 changed lanes near the backup and struck a Hyundai Elantra. The Elantra was then pushed into a Toyota Corolla and a Volkswagen.
Elantra occupants Dariana P. Machado Marquez, 25, and a 2-month-old girl were taken to Kadlec Regional Medical Center. Corolla driver Darnell L. Brown, 28, of Hermiston, Oregon, and a 2-year-old girl were brought to the same hospital.
None of the four patients had life-threatening injuries. One person faced harm serious enough to require an extended hospital stay, though the report did not identify that patient. The cause of the collision remains under investigation.
We hope all four people receive attentive care and recover steadily.
What Happens When Drivers Encounter a Backup Too Late
Traffic can slow quickly when a disabled vehicle blocks part of a highway lane. Drivers farther back may not immediately see the obstruction, especially when larger vehicles limit their view.
A sudden lane change can create another conflict when nearby motorists are already braking. Limited following distance could leave little room to stop or move safely. Once one vehicle is struck, it may be pushed into others within seconds.
Vehicle spacing, braking marks, damage patterns, and final positions can help establish the order of contact. Traffic volume and sight distance may also explain how much warning approaching drivers had. Children can face different injury risks because of their size, seating position, and restraint system. Properly fitted child safety seats help limit movement during sudden force, but medical evaluation may still be needed after a multi-vehicle crash.
