2 women killed in Pasco and Richland in overnight crashes. One was a hit-and-run

Two women are dead after a night when icy roads caused dozens of crashes across the Tri-Cities.

A 73-year-old pedestrian was killed when she was hit by a small dark-colored sedan in Pasco. And a 40-year-old Benton City woman died after she lost control of her SUV on an icy Interstate 182 in Richland.

In all, there were 63 crashes on state highways and interstates between 4:20 p.m. and 5 a.m. — most of them caused by people driving too fast, Washington State Patrol Trooper Chris Thorson said.

Collisions were reported on every highway across Benton and Franklin counties, including a pileup in the westbound lanes of Highway 240 just east of George Washington Way in Richland.

Nearly a dozen vehicles were damaged or slid off the road, leading to a backup. Another crash on Interstate 182 near Road 100 closed northbound traffic.

Thorson said there were several more during the Wednesday morning commute before temperatures warmed up.

Other Tri-City police agencies also sent out notices through social media saying they were handling several collisions, and asking people to slow down and drive more carefully.

Fatal hit-and-run

Pasco police are searching for the person who was driving south about 7 p.m. on 20th Avenue when the person struck an older couple crossing the road at Nixon Street.

Maria Larios Torres, 73, of Pasco and her 67-year-old husband had just finished a shopping trip to the SuperMex grocery store, according to family members. They were wearing high-visibility clothes and carrying flashlights as they started crossing 20th Avenue, said a relative.

A person driving a dark-colored sedan hit the couple as they were crossing the street, Pasco Sgt. Rigo Pruneda told the Herald.

The sedan’s driver drove away and wasn’t at the scene when officers arrived.

Both husband and wife were rushed to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland. Doctors weren’t able to save the woman.

Her husband remains hospitalized, Pruneda said.

He was able to say goodbye to his wife, but has suffered a heart attack as well, according to a GoFundMe created by Quinton Stevens. They are hoping to raise money to pay for funeral expenses and medical bills.

The two have lived in Pasco for their entire lives, and were field workers, Stevens said. Even if he survives, he is unlikely to be able to return to work.

“As the family grieves and mourns this devastating tragedy, they suffer with the thought of the expenses as well,” Stevens wrote. “Any help will be greatly appreciated from the bottom of our hearts.”

People can donate to the GoFundMe by going to bit.ly/LariosTorresFundraiser.

Investigators discovered the sedan empty just south of 20th Avenue and Lewis Street on Wednesday morning. It had been reported stolen in Pasco on Monday.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact Pasco police using the non-emergency dispatch number at 509-628-0333.

Interstate 182 death

Stephanie N. Hall Mullen, 40, of Benton City, was heading west on Interstate 182 in Richland about 4:20 p.m. Tuesday when she lost control of her SUV, said the WSP.

Her Nissan Xterra rolled through the median, across the eastbound lanes and ended up on the right shoulder, the state patrol said. She was wearing a seat belt but died at the scene.

The state patrol said the crash was caused by her driving too fast for the freezing rain weather conditions.

Hall Mullen worked as a bus attendant at Longfellow Elementary School and Pasco High School, according to school district staff.

The district offered counseling to staff and students.