
Pasco WA man driving semi in I-90 crash that left 3 dead
A tow truck worked at midday Thursday to take away UPS trailers soon after a crash early in the early morning on Interstate 90 that killed two adults and a child from Yakima.
Washington State Patrol
Easton, WA
A music teacher from Yakima and his 10-year-old daughter were killed Thursday along with his cousin in a head-on crash on Interstate 90 when a Tri-Cities truck driver lost control.
The Yakima man’s wife and the couple’s son, 6, were injured, one of them critically, according to the Washington State Patrol.
The truck driver, Danny Ellingford, 43, of Pasco, was not hurt.
The crash happened about 10 miles east of Snoqualmie Pass about 12:30 a.m., and closed eastbound lanes of I-90 for about 13 hours.
Ellingford was pulling two United Parcel Service trailers and was traveling west on the interstate when he crossed over the median into the eastbound lanes and hit the westbound 2016 Kia Optima carrying the Yakima family, according to the WSP.
All were wearing seat belts.
WSP continues to investigate the cause of the crash, but said that drugs and alcohol were not involved.
‘Perfect’ Yakima family
Justin L. Poole, 40, and his daughter, Chelsea Poole, 10, died before they could be taken to a hospital.
Michaela L. Buckholt, 27, was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where she died. She was the cousin of Justin Poole’s wife, Nicole Wallawine Poole, 36.
Nicole “Nikki” Poole, 36, was taken to Kittitas Valley Hospital in Ellensburg and then transferred to Harborview. She was no longer listed as a patient Friday.
Justin and Nicole’s son, Maddox, 6, was taken to Harborview.
According to a GoFundMe fundraiser, Maddox was intubated and has undergone brain surgery. He was in critical condition Friday, according to the hospital.
“Justin was a kind, funny man who deeply loved his family,” according to the fundraiser. “Chelsea was a beautiful, sweet little girl full of life, and they will be missed beyond compare, along with Michaela.”
Justin Poole was an instrumental music teacher at Melody Lane Dance Music and Drama Academy in Yakima, according to his Facebook page.
“Nikki (Nicole) and Justin Poole have been sweethearts forever,” said the fundraiser. “They’re both some of the kindest, most caring people you could ever meet. They were a perfect family of four …”
The GoFundMe had raised about $6,250 of its $25,000 goal as of Friday morning.
This tale was at first released March 16, 2023, 7:03 PM.