Chelan Woman Killed in U.S. 97A Crash

Passenger Identified as Chelan Woman Killed in Two-Vehicle Collision

Mar. 15, 2026 at 10:11pm

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A 24-year-old Chelan woman died in a two-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 97A north of Entiat, Washington on Saturday night. The driver of the SUV, a 24-year-old Entiat resident, reportedly failed to yield and struck the pickup truck driven by a 27-year-old Couldee Dam woman.

Why it matters

Fatal car crashes on rural highways are an ongoing public safety concern in central Washington, with investigators often citing factors like driver inattention, impaired driving, and lack of seatbelt use as contributing to the severity of injuries and loss of life.

The details

According to the Washington State Patrol, the crash occurred just before 10 p.m. when the SUV driver, Jaiden Buyas, failed to yield and struck the pickup truck driven by Merlee Liberty as she attempted to make a right turn. The impact killed Buyas' passenger, 24-year-old Kasey Emery of Chelan, who was not wearing a seatbelt. Liberty and her passenger, 24-year-old Derek Graham of East Wenatchee, were uninjured.

  • The crash occurred just before 10 p.m. on Saturday, March 15, 2026.

The players

Jaiden Buyas

A 24-year-old resident of Entiat, Washington who was driving the SUV involved in the fatal crash.

Merlee Liberty

A 27-year-old resident of Couldee Dam, Washington who was driving the pickup truck involved in the crash.

Kasey Emery

A 24-year-old resident of Chelan, Washington who was the passenger in the SUV and was killed in the crash.

Derek Graham

A 24-year-old resident of East Wenatchee, Washington who was the passenger in the pickup truck and was uninjured.

Washington State Patrol

The law enforcement agency investigating the fatal crash.

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What’s next

The Washington State Patrol's investigation into the crash is ongoing, and they will likely release more details in the coming days about the factors that contributed to the fatal collision.

The takeaway

This tragic incident underscores the importance of safe driving practices, such as yielding the right-of-way, wearing seatbelts, and avoiding impaired or distracted driving, especially on rural highways where high speeds and limited visibility can make accidents more likely and more severe.