A quiet early morning in Yakima turned deadly Tuesday when a 39-year-old Selah man was killed in a single-vehicle crash along North 1st Street, just off the westbound Interstate 82 exit.
Washington State Patrol investigators identified the driver as Zachary Cline. The collision happened shortly after 3:30 a.m. on a northbound stretch of North 1st Street at the exit to westbound I-82. Troopers said Cline’s vehicle left the roadway, hit a guardrail and came to rest nearby. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
What Troopers Reported
Preliminary findings indicate the car was traveling too fast for the conditions, investigators told Apple Valley News Now. Troopers said Cline lost control at the westbound I-82 exit, struck the guardrail and then came to a stop.
Investigators also told Apple Valley News Now they have not found evidence that drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash.
Speed and Crash Trends in Washington
Speed remains a leading factor in deadly collisions across Washington, and transportation officials note that excessive speed is often tied to single-vehicle run-off-the-road crashes. Statewide data group speeding with impairment, distraction and not wearing seat belts as the “fatal four” behaviors most closely linked to traffic deaths, according to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.
Investigation Ongoing
Troopers say the investigation is still active, and they are releasing only limited details while they work to confirm what happened, as reported by Apple Valley News Now. Officials have not yet said whether any charges could follow. Anyone with information about the collision is asked to contact the Washington State Patrol.
