A traffic collision on southbound Interstate 5 early Saturday sent two people to the hospital and blocked the Mill Plain exit for about five hours, according to Washington State Patrol.
Kelli Abrego, 41, of Centralia, and Sergio Vasquez, 33, of Sacramento, Calif., were transported to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center. Abrego remained at the hospital Saturday in satisfactory condition. Vasquez was treated and released.
The collision happened around 1:10 a.m. A red 1997 Ford Explorer, driven by Abrego, and a silver 2001 Lexus IS3, driven by Chevin Lin, 18, of Lacey, were southbound on the interstate approaching the Mill Plain exit. The Lexus took the exit in the second lane when the Ford Explorer crossed a divided barrier at Mill Plain to exit, striking the Lexus, according to WSP. The Lexus went off the right side of the road and came to rest. The Ford Explorer rolled several times and landed also on the right side of the road. Abrego, the Ford Explorer’s driver, and Vasquez, a passenger in the Lexus, were injured.
Chevin and two other passengers in the Lexus were not injured.
Abrego will be charged with vehicular assault for crossing a divided barrier, according to WSP.
