A 27-year-old Winlock man died after crashing head-on with a semi truck during a three-vehicle wreck 3 miles east of Washougal Friday morning.
The Washington State Patrol is still investigating the cause of the crash that killed Joseph M. Sparks. He was driving a blue 1993 Chevrolet pickup truck westbound on state Route 14 when he, for unknown reasons, crossed the centerline, sideswiped a U-Haul truck and crashed into the semi truck, according to State Patrol. The collision occurred at 8:30 a.m.
The driver of the 12-foot U-Haul truck, a 43-year-old New Mexico woman, was not injured. The semi truck driver, a 24-year-old Pacific woman, was also not injured. All three vehicles were eventually towed from the scene.
It appears Sparks was at fault, according to the State Patrol. The other drivers will not be cited. Trooper Will Finn, spokesman for the State Patrol, said troopers do not know what might have caused Sparks to drive into the opposite lane, adding the investigation might take some time to complete.
