One dead in Highway 2 crash west of Airway Heights

Highway 2 closed in Deep Creek area

AIRWAY HEIGHTS, Wash. — One person has been killed in a collision involving a semi truck and two cars on Highway 2 five miles west of Airway Heights.

The collision happened at 8:41 a.m. in the Deep Creek area according to the Washington State Patrol, which has troopers on the scene investigating the crash.

“This morning two passenger cars eastbound Highway 2 approaching Deep Creek Road, one of these vehicles lost control, unfortunately there was a semi traveling westbound in the area,” WSP Trooper Jeff Sevigney reports.

Authorities report that a pickup driver heading eastbound lost control because of snowy road conditions. The semi driver tried to swerve, hit the pickup and then plummeted down a 100 foot embankment.

The pickup driver died in the crash. The semi driver was sent to the hospital with minor injuries. A third vehicle was involved in the collision but the driver of that vehicle was not injured. Trooper Sevigney said this type of crash happens often during the transition into winter weather.

“We don’t want to have to go to any other fatality collisions, just to remind drivers we are in winter time, give yourself plenty of extra time if you’re going to be traveling on the road ways [and] be prepared for changing conditions,” he said.

Sevigney added the crash was, “[a] stark reminder to pay attention and give yourself plenty of extra time and slow down on road ways especially when its snowing.”

Late Thursday afternoon the State Patrol confirmed that Sharon Deppner, 74, of Davenport was the driver killed in the crash.

The Department of Ecology was advised as 250 gallons of diesel fuel was spilled in the crash.

Highway 2 was shut down at the crash scene, which was partially blocking on the roadway. The highway was reopened just before 1 p.m.