Driver on U.S. 97 killed by shots from passing car

UNION GAP, Wash. — A man driving on U.S. 97 was shot and killed by gunfire coming from another car, leaving his 8-year-old son to steer the vehicle.

Ramon Sandoval Morfin, 35, of Yakima, died at the scene, the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday.

The man and his son were traveling north at Union Gap near Yakima Wednesday night when a second vehicle pulled alongside them and shots were fired, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Morfin was hit by several shots and lost consciousness while still pressing on the accelerator.

His son steered the car for about one mile, negotiating several curves, an overpass and the on-ramp to I-82 before coming to a stop south of the Valley Mall Boulevard interchange, the Sheriff’s Office said.

The boy was not hurt. He was checked at a local hospital before going home with relatives.

Deputies recovered two handguns and multiple shell casings from the scene.

An autopsy was scheduled for Friday.

The Sheriff’s Office was investigating.

Deputies were seeking a boxy or square four-door vehicle, brown or rust, which might have some body damage to the right side of the vehicle.