A Benton City man is hospitalized in critical condition after being hit by a vehicle on Interstate 82 early Thursday morning.
According to the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office, the victim, Jonathan Llanez-Ortuno, 30, was hit by a 2005 Subaru Outback after he had stepped out of his semi-truck at milepost 0.5 just past the Highway 730 exit. The accident occurred round 6:20 a.m.
The Outback’s driver, Dean Ding Yao, 28, of Kennewick, was traveling southwest on I-82 at approximately 40 to 50 mph on icy roads when he came upon several stranded vehicles and semi-trucks along the roadway. According to the sheriff’s office, Yao applied his brakes and began to slide when he struck Llanez-Ortuno. The nature of the victim’s injuries were not released. He was taken to Good Shepherd Medical Center.
The sheriff’s office is continuing to investigate the accident.
