1 driver killed near Kennewick as icy roads send cars, trucks spinning. Some highways closed

One person died in a crash south of Kennewick on Saturday morning, as icy roads sent cars and trucks sliding across the Tri-Cities region.

Interstate 82 northbound just south of Kennewick, Interstate 84 both directions across Eastern Oregon and some rural roads in Benton County were closed Saturday morning due to poor road conditions and crashes.

Just before 5 a.m. a caller reported to 911 that a semi truck heading north on Interstate 82 just south of Kennewick had crashed and rolled over.

Responding deputies reported to dispatchers that one person had died.

Oliver D. Bastien, 47, of Spokane, died about 4:30 a.m. when he lost control of his vehicle and flipped into the median, said the Washington State Patrol. He was not wearing a seat belt, said WSP investigators.

Deputies also reported multiple cars off the road and jackknifed semi trucks blocking traffic on the interstate south of Kennewick. The roadway was covered with snowpack and was icy.

The interstate was closed northbound for nine miles just south of Kennewick as of 9:30 a.m., but a detour had been set up, according to Trooper Chris Thorson of the Washington State Patrol.

Thorson reported that the WSP responded to 51 crashes Friday in the Tri-Cities area, plus five in the Walla Walla area, 10 in the Lower Yakima Valley and seven in the Yakima area.

I-84, Tri-Cities area roads closed

Benton County closed some rural roadways in the south end of the county early Saturday morning due to snow drifts and icy conditions.

Plymouth Road was closed near Sellards Road to Highway 221 and Webber Canyon was closed from Badger Road to Travis Road.

Franklin County deputies responded to a three-vehicle crash on Taylor Flats Road about four miles north of Pasco overnight. The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office said at 11:30 p.m. Friday that Taylor Flats was closed in both directions.

Interstate 84 through Eastern Oregon was closed to traffic Saturday morning in both directions because of high winds, blowing snow and near zero visibility, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation.

The interstate was closed from about six miles east of Pendleton to Baker City, Ore. Westbound commercial truck traffic was being stopped in Ontario, Ore., because of lack of parking in Baker City and La Grande.

I-90 at Snoqualmie Pass remained open, but chains were required for most vehicles Saturday morning.

Mid-Columbia Libraries announced they would be closed until noon Saturday.

The limited number of Hanford employees scheduled to report to work for a day shift Saturday were told to stay home unless they were needed for the safety and security of the site.

Workers scheduled on swing and graveyard shifts were told to report to work as usual.

Tri-Cities weather forecast

Roads were left icy after snowfall Friday night in the Tri-Cities and possibly freezing rain in some places.

But road conditions should improve with a forecast for the coming week that calls for no more Tri-Cities snow or freezing rain.

Sunday a 40% chance of rain is forecast, with a high of 36 degrees.

Then dry, but colder than normal, weather is forecast through at least Friday, says the National Weather Service.

A high of 40 was forecast Saturday in the Tri-Cities, but highs are expected to drop into the 20s in the Tri-Cities starting Tuesday.

By Friday the high could be no warmer than 21.

Nighttime temperatures are forecast to drop to the low 20s Monday night and then into the teens Wednesday and Thursday night. The low Thursday night is forecast at 14 degrees.

This story will be updated when more information is available on the I-82 crash.