August 31, 2009 in City

Police say driver fell asleep before crash

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A driver and passenger from Tacoma were injured early Sunday when the driver reportedly fell asleep at the wheel along state Highway 26 in Adams County.

Leao Pitoitua, 19, the driver, and Malcom L. Stanback, 18, the passenger, were both taken to East Adams Rural Hospital in Ritzville by ambulance following the 7:10 a.m. accident west of Washtucna. A nurse at the hospital declined to give any information on their condition or whether they were transferred to a larger hospital.

Pitoitua was headed east on the highway when the 2006 Chrysler he was driving drifted across the westbound lane. The driver overcorrected and the vehicle slid across the eastbound lane and rolled twice before coming to rest on its top in a field, Washington State Patrol troopers said.

The WSP trooper investigating the accident cited the driver for improper lane travel and not having a valid driver’s license.

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