Three car crash blocked Highway 195 north of Colfax for hours

Oct. 3, 2015 Updated Sat., Oct. 3, 2015 at 9:22 p.m.

By Nina Culver nculver47@gmail.com

A three-car crash blocked both directions of U.S. Highway 195 six miles north of Colfax in Whitman County for several hours Saturday.

At least one person was critically injured, according to the Washington State Patrol. The accident was reported just before 2 p.m. and the highway remained closed until 7 p.m.

A Nissan Altima driven by Vickie J. Witt, 66, was driving south on U.S. 195 when she pulled over on the shoulder because of reduced visibility caused by blowing dust, according to a WSP news release. When she re-entered traffic she crossed the center line and hit a northbound Jeep Commander driven by Douglas F. Habib, 50, head-on.

The impact pushed the Altima into the southbound lane, where it was rear-ended by a Chevy pickup driven by Donald L. Thursby, 62. All three vehicles were totaled.

Witt and Thursby were taken to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center by helicopter. Habib and his three passengers, two of them children, also were injured. Everyone involved was wearing a seat belt.

Charges are pending against Witt, WSP said.

This story is developing and will be updated.

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