Presiliano Perez-Pineda Arrested in Othello Car Accident
Three teenage girls killed after pickup truck forced into irrigation canal
Three teenage girls were killed in a car accident on West Bench Road in Othello, Washington, on Sunday, leading to the arrest of a 19-year-old woman, according to the Adams County Sheriff's Office.
The road borders an irrigation canal. A white 2019 Mercedes-Benz sedan attempted to pass a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck, striking the driver's side of the truck. The crash forced the pickup off the road and into the adjacent water, where the three passengers were thrown from the vehicle.
The suspect fled the scene. Deputies later arrested Presiliano Perez-Pineda on suspicion of three counts of vehicular homicide, including one with a domestic violence designation. Surveillance footage showed the vehicles traveling above the 40 mph speed limit before the collision.
The victims, all students at Othello High School, were pronounced dead in the water near the submerged truck. Authorities withheld their names because they are minors.
Perez-Pineda remains in the Adams County Jail with bail set at $1 million. The road was closed for several hours while investigators processed the scene.
How will the crash impact the Othello community?
The deaths of three students have affected the local school district, which is providing counseling for classmates and staff. While the criminal justice system handles the vehicular homicide charges against the driver of the pickup, the victims' families face the aftermath of the fatal crash.
National Legal Analyst Candice Bond, Managing Partner at Bond Legal. "Separate from criminal charges, a victim’s family may be entitled to compensation through a civil lawsuit against the responsible party," Bond said. "In addition to the diligent work of law enforcement, an attorney can re-interview important witnesses, analyze any surveillance video from a crash scene and obtain phone and texting records of the liable party. Serving as an advocate, an attorney can help compassionately guide a grieving family during this difficult time, protecting their legal rights while ensuring that drunk drivers are held accountable for their reckless actions."
Fatal crashes involving drivers who flee the scene have increased nationwide, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
What happens next in the fatal crash investigation?
Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage and vehicle damage to reconstruct the crash on West Bench Road. In fatal car accidents with criminal charges, civil investigations can uncover additional liability factors. National Legal Analyst Stefano Formica, Of Counsel at Bond Legal"A civil case is very different from a criminal case in a number of ways and its own separate action."
The Adams County Sheriff's Office is gathering evidence, including tire marks and paint transfers, for the criminal case while the victims' families consider their legal options.
Washington wrongful death statute
Under RCW § 4.20.010, surviving family members may file a wrongful death action. Washington applies pure comparative fault. The statute of limitations is 3 years.
Recoverable damages may include loss of financial support, loss of companionship, funeral expenses, and the estate's losses.