Available 
Connell, WA (January 23, 2026) – A serious collision involving a semi-truck and a passenger vehicle left a 17-year-old girl injured on Tuesday evening west of Connell, according to the Washington State Patrol.
The crash occurred at approximately 4:50 p.m. on January 20 at the intersection of Highway 260 and Dilling Road, about three miles east of Highway 17. Investigators say Rafael D. Aquino, 50, of Connell, was operating an eastbound semi-truck on Highway 260 when he attempted to turn onto Dilling Rd and collided head-on with a westbound Volkswagen Jetta.
The impact of the crash left the teen driver of the Jetta, identified as Keyla Cruz Saavedra of Connell, trapped inside her vehicle. Firefighters and troopers worked quickly to extricate her from the wreckage. She was then transported to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland for treatment of injuries, which were not described in detail but were considered serious enough to warrant emergency medical attention.
Aquino was cited at the scene for failure to yield the right of way, according to the Washington State Patrol. No additional injuries were reported.
Both directions of Highway 260 were shut down for nearly four hours while investigators processed the scene and crews worked to remove debris and damaged vehicles. The roadway was fully reopened just before 9 p.m.
The WSP continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision. We send our heartfelt thoughts to Keyla Saavedra and her family and wish her a full and smooth recovery.
