Woman, 26, Killed, Five Others Injured In Satus Pass Crash

TOPPENISH, Yakima County - A Longview woman was killed and five other people were injured in a collision with a semitruck yesterday on U.S. 97 at Satus Pass.

Margarita Eustaquio, 26, was thrown from a van and died at the scene from massive head injuries, the Washington State Patrol said.

The van's driver, Ruben Eustaquio Sr., 27, was trying to pass a tractor-trailer rig when he lost control of his vehicle about 25 miles south of Toppenish, police said. The van clipped the truck, careened across the oncoming lane and crashed into a rock embankment, police said.

The driver and victim's 20-month-old son, Ruben Eustaquio Jr., suffered a severe head injury and was taken to Seattle's Harborview Medical Center, where he was listed this morning in serious condition. Two other children also were injured. Bernice Eustaquio, 3, suffered abrasions on her left shoulder and 11-month-old Jose Eustaquio was treated at Providence Toppenish Hospital for a cut tongue and released.

Ruben Eustaquio Sr. and his brother, Carlos Eustaquio, 36, were treated at Providence Toppenish Hospital for internal and head injuries, respectively, and released.