Accident near Colfax leaves two dead, two injured

From staff reports

Two women were pronounced dead at the scene of a collision early Friday morning about two miles south of Colfax on the 195 freeway.

Nancy Zepeda Zarate, 21, of Quincy, Wash., and Ashley M. Gonzalez, 21, of Pasco, Wash., were in the back seat of a 1999 Volkswagen Jetta that crossed the center line and collided with a semi-truck traveling in the opposite direction, according to the Washington State Patrol.

The Jetta was driven by Erica Polito Mosso, 21, of Tonasket, Wash., who was transported to the intensive care unit of Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane.

In the front passenger seat was Carmen Gomez Villalpando, 22, of Walla Walla, who was transported and released from Whitman Hospital & Medical Center in Colfax.

Washington State Trooper Brandon Kendall identified all of the women as Eastern Washington University students.

The driver of the semi-truck was not injured.

The Washington State Patrol reported Gonzalez and Zepeda Zarate were not wearing seat belts at the time of the collision. The others involved were wearing seat belts.