Franklin County, WA (May 31, 2025) — A multi-vehicle collision involving three semi-trucks and three passenger vehicles left one man dead Saturday evening on Highway 395, about four miles north of Connell, according to the Washington State Patrol.
Incident Details: The crash occurred around 6:30 p.m. as the six vehicles traveled northbound. Washington State Patrol reports that a chain-reaction collision began when one semi-truck struck another, triggering secondary crashes that involved several other vehicles, including a Ford van driven by 29-year-old Andrew E. Thomas of Spokane.
After striking a semi-truck, Thomas’s van was hit by a GMC Yukon. He died at the scene. The report did not confirm whether Thomas was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. Drivers and passengers involved ranged in age from 6 to 83 years old. The official cause of the collision was cited as speeding.
Investigation and Legal Considerations: Authorities continue investigating. Given the scale of this incident and the involvement of multiple semis, investigators will likely assess each driver’s actions leading up to the wreck and the commercial vehicles’ spacing, speed, and brake performance. They will also examine whether federal safety regulations were violated regarding speed limits, following distance, driver fatigue, or vehicle maintenance.
Pending the investigation’s findings, Thomas’s surviving family members may have grounds to pursue a wrongful death claim to recover damages for loss of companionship, funeral costs, and other losses.
Source: KXLY News