A Chelan driver has been charged with vehicular assault and DUI after causing an accident on US 97 on Saturday evening.
Adrian Tiburciolopez, 29, was driving a 1994 Ford Ranger northbound on US 97, approximately 11 miles north of Orondo, when the accident occurred at 4:42 p.m. Tiburciolopez attempted to turn left onto Suncove Road at MP 224 but failed to yield to oncoming traffic. Consequently, a 1995 Subaru Legacy driving in the opposite lane crashed into his vehicle.
Although Tiburciolopez was not injured in the accident, he was later charged with vehicular assault and DUI. Meanwhile, a passenger in the Ranger fled on foot, and further details regarding them are unknown. The Legacy driver, Antonio Villa, 36, and his passenger, Norberto Linovilla, 26, escaped the accident without any injuries. However, 21-year-old German Morales, the second Legacy passenger, broke his ankle and was taken to Central Washington Hospital for medical attention.
Due to the collision, US 97 remained partially blocked for almost five hours.