A Wednesday evening drive ended in tragedy for 32-year-old Jamaica Castro of Wapato, Washington, after the pickup truck she was riding in collided with two semi-trucks on State Route 24 near Moxee. Castro was killed at the scene of the November 4 crash, leaving her family and loved ones to face a loss that came without warning.
According to the Washington State Patrol, the crash happened around 6:14 p.m. near Morrier Lane. Castro was riding as a passenger in an eastbound 2024 Chevrolet Silverado when the pickup crossed into the westbound lane and struck a 2011 Volvo VN semi-truck pulling two trailers.
The impact was followed by another collision. A westbound 2003 Peterbilt 379 semi-truck, also pulling two trailers, struck the pickup. The three vehicles were caught up in a violent chain of impacts that left several people injured and Castro dead.
Castro suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. She was 32. The sudden loss of a woman in the prime of her life has left a painful void for those who knew her, particularly the family and friends who now have to come to terms with her death.
The pickup’s driver, 35-year-old Cristian M. González, was injured and taken to MultiCare Yakima Memorial Hospital for treatment. The driver of the second semi-truck, 46-year-old Jaime Contreras of Wapato, also sustained injuries and was transported to the same hospital.
The driver of the first semi-truck, 21-year-old Héctor Altamirano of Wapato, escaped the crash without injuries. Despite the severity of the collision, authorities said intoxicants were not a factor.
The Washington State Patrol has not yet determined what caused the pickup to cross into the opposite lane. Investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the collision, and charges against González are pending.
For Castro’s loved ones, however, the investigation cannot undo what happened that evening. A family has lost someone important to them, and a life that should have had many more years ahead has ended far too soon.
Jamaica Castro’s death is a painful reminder of how quickly a routine journey can turn into a tragedy. Her family and friends are now left with memories of a woman whose absence will be deeply felt.