Driver Crashes Into DOT Plow Truck on Slick Hanford Highway

Foggy conditions and slick roads led to the head-on collision.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A 28-year-old Mattawa man lost control of his pickup truck on a slick, foggy stretch of Highway 24 near the Vernita Bridge and crashed head-on into a Department of Transportation plow truck, leaving his vehicle totaled but resulting in only minor injuries for the driver.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the dangers of driving in hazardous weather conditions, especially on rural highways, and the importance of adjusting speed and exercising caution when visibility and road conditions are poor.

The details

Jared Thomaasson was driving his Dodge Dakota pickup northbound on Highway 24 around 6 a.m. on Friday when he lost control of his vehicle due to heavy fog and low temperatures that had left the road slick. Thomaasson's pickup crashed head-on into a southbound DOT plow truck, totaling his vehicle. Thomaasson was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, while the plow truck driver, James B. Craig, was unharmed. The Washington State Patrol cited Thomaasson for second-degree negligent driving for driving too fast for the hazardous conditions.

  • The incident occurred around 6 a.m. on Friday, February 13, 2026.

The players

Jared Thomaasson

A 28-year-old man from Mattawa, Washington who crashed his pickup truck into a DOT plow truck.

James B. Craig

The 55-year-old driver of the DOT plow truck that was struck by Thomaasson's vehicle.

Washington State Patrol

The law enforcement agency that cited Thomaasson for second-degree negligent driving.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We must remind drivers to slow down and exercise extreme caution when road conditions are hazardous due to weather.”

— Daniel Mosqueda, State Trooper (Tri-City Herald)

What’s next

The Washington State Patrol will continue its investigation into the incident.

The takeaway

This crash underscores the importance of adjusting driving behavior to match dangerous weather and road conditions, as reckless driving in poor visibility can have serious consequences.