BENTON CITY — Staff and students at Zillah High School are thankful that seven cheerleaders and their driver weren’t seriously injured in a rollover accident Saturday evening about a mile from Benton City.
The cheerleaders were returning from the Class 1A state football quarterfinals in Spokane where Zillah lost to Deer Park, 24-6. A tire blew on their Dodge Sprint van as they traveled on Interstate 82, causing the van to roll about 5:15 p.m., according to the Washington State Patrol.
The teens treated and released were Callie J. Kehoe, 18, of Zillah; Andrea V. Miranda, 17, of Granger; Elise C. Moneymaker, 17, of Zillah; Zoe M. Etheridge, 17, of Zillah; Taryn B. Vanantwerp, 16, of Zillah; Yesenia Sanchez, 17, of Zillah; and Jorrian A. Southards, 17, of Zillah. All were transported to Kadlec Regional Medical Center while their driver, Marissa D. Connolly, 30, of Yakima was taken there in a private vehicle, according to authorities.
Connolly was also treated and released, according to a nursing supervisor. She and Southards wore seat belts but the others did not, State Patrol reported.
