Two drivers are facing DUI and vehicular assault charges after a semi truck veered off the road and was struck by a passenger car on Interstate 5 near the Maytown rest area, injuring four people and blocking I-5 for seven hours Monday morning.
The semi-truck, driven by 34-year-old Gustavo Corrales Villalobos, of Coarsegold, California, was driving southbound in the far left lane when it left the roadway to the right, with the trailer blocking the left lane, according to Washington State Patrol (WSP).
The passenger vehicle, a silver 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan driven by Benito Ramirez-Lopez, 31, of Aberdeen, then crashed into the semi trailer.
WSP was dispatched to the incident at 2:05 a.m. on Sept. 12. The crash blocked the roadway for seven hours and one minute, according to WSP.
Ramirez-Lopez and his three passengers suffered injuries and were transported to Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia for treatment.
Corrales Villalobos was not injured.
WSP has referred driving under the influence charges against Corrales Villalobos and has driving under the influence and vehicular assault charges against Ramirez-Lopez, according to WSP’s incident report.
