Assault charges eyed in three-vehicle, Fair Avenue crash

YAKIMA, Wash. -- Two Yakima residents were hospitalized in satisfactory condition after a three-vehicle crash Sunday night that could lead to criminal charges for the suspect, authorities said.

Jose Jara-Avalos, 44, of Yakima was taken to Seattle's Harborview Medical Center for treatment of facial injuries. Police say they suspect he was speeding and is being investigated for possible drinking before the crash.

Another driver, Norma Reyes-Salgado, 23, of Yakima was also transferred to Harborview, for treatment of multiple leg and ankle fractures.

The third driver, 50-year-old Glenn Harrington of Yakima, was not hurt, police said.

The crash was reported about 9:45 p.m. on Fair Avenue just south of the Gateway Center.

Police said witnesses told them that Jara-Avalos' Ford Aerostar appeared to be speeding south from Martin Luther King Boulevard when it tried to pass Harrington's Dodge Caravan.

The Ford van then crashed head-on into Reyes-Salgado's Ford Mustang, which was northbound on Fair approaching the Gateway Center, police said.

The crash pushed the Ford back into the other van.

Jara-Avalos was apparently not wearing a seat belt, authorities said. The other drivers were.

Traffic investigators said they were handling the case as a vehicular assault and would pass their report to the Yakima County prosecutor's office for consideration of charges.