Selah High Student Dies in Single-Vehicle Crash

A tragic crash on Wednesday on North Wenas Road resulted in the death of a 16-year-old student from Selah High School. The Yakima County Coroner's Office identifies the teen driver as Christian Petri of Selah.

THE CRASH HAPPENED ON WEDNESDAY MORNING

Yakima County Sheriff's Deputies say they were called to 6500 block of North Wenas Road at about 7:51 am Wednesday for a report of an injury crash. When they arrived the Deputies noted the road was slick with ice and may have contributed to the incident. They found the 16-year-old driver in the overturned vehicle. They say Firefighters and Medics tried to save him but Petri died at the scene. An investigation found the young driver lost control on the ice and struck a tree.

COUNSELORS ARE HELPING FELLOW STUDENTS

Petri was on the only person in the vehicle. Investigators say he was wearing a seatbelt and that intoxicants were not believed to be a factor in the fatal crash. Authorities say the teen attended Selah High School and that counselors are providing help to his grieving fellow students and friends today.

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WINTER IS A TOUGH TIME OF YEAR FOR YOUNG DRIVERS

Winter is always challenging time of year even for experienced drivers but for those who are new drivers slick roads caused by snow and ice can be challenging and sometimes deadly. Officials from the Washington State Patrol say weather-related crashes are a significant factor, with 24% of all weather-related vehicle crashes happening on snowy, slushy, or icy pavement nationwide. In 2024, Washington had 731 total traffic fatalities, a slight decrease from the previous year. Factors like slick roads contribute to overall crashes, but the exact number of fatalities caused solely by slick roads is not specified for Washington.