BRUSH PRAIRIE, Wash. (KOIN) — Two women and a 5-year-old girl were killed and another two children seriously hurt in a two-vehicle head-on crash on SR-503 near Brush Prairie on Friday afternoon, officials said.
The crash happened just after 4 p.m. near 149th Street just north of Salmon Creek.
Washington State Patrol said a northbound car was passing other cars when it collided head-on with a southbound minivan, killing the driver — 31-year-old Rosa Wilson of Brush Prairie — and a 5-year-old girl inside. Two other children inside the minivan, both under the age of ten, were taken to a hospital in critical condition.
The driver of the passing car, 41-year-old Kristi Byars, was also pronounced dead.
“Essentially what happened, we had one vehicle traveling northbound caught up in traffic and attempted to pass over a double yellow line, a no-passing area,” said a Washington State Trooper Will Finn. “I don’t know at this point if they’re related or not, but it’s such a tragedy that we’ve lost anyone in any collision, but especially when you take it down to a child.”
Finn said it has been a while since he has seen a crash this bad. Troopers said the impact separated a motor from one of the vehicles.
“So many people have been affected by this collision, all the way down to the first-responders and the tow truck operators who are going to be here this evening,” said Finn. “We just ask that folks slow down, be patient with other folks, and treat the roadway safely.”
A GoFundMe campaign has since been launched to support the Wilson family:
On Saturday, the Wilson family issued a statement about their tragic loss, but did not wish to speak with media directly. It read, in part:
“Rosa and Juniper have left a gaping hole in the hearts of the Wilson and Anderson families.
The road is long and our grief for Rosa and Juniper is compounded by the immediate concern of Elliot and Iona’s recovery. Both remain in critical care and have more surgeries ahead. The emotional recovery feels impossible from this vantage point. But as Brian and Rosa have shown us before, faith is the answer.
The outpouring of love and support form the community lifts the burden as we look to the days ahead. Thank you for your tremendous love and generosity.“