One killed, one injured in crash on Highway 503 in Orchards

One person was killed and one person was injured Tuesday morning in a crash on state Highway 503 south of 76th Street in Orchards, according to the Washington State Patrol.

The crash, which was reported at 9:35 a.m., involved a semitruck and pickup.

The passenger of the pickup, Angela V. Morales, 58, of Vancouver, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the State Patrol. The driver, Fernando A. Morales, 62, of Vancouver, was transported to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center with injuries that were not life-threatening.

The driver of the semitruck, Viorel I. Melnik, 48, of Vancouver, was not injured, according to a crash report.

Investigators said Fernando Morales failed to yield to oncoming traffic when he attempted to make a left turn westbound onto 76th Street. Melnik collided with Morales’ pickup while traveling through the intersection.

Troopers are still investigating whether Morales was under the influence of alcohol or drugs but said Melnik was not under the influence.

Charges against Morales are pending, according to the State Patrol.

The southbound lanes of Highway 503 were blocked by the crash for several hours.

The crash south of 76th Street near the Orchards Fred Meyer is the second fatal crash in Clark County in less than 24 hours. A teenager was killed in a crash on Highway 503 near Fargher Lake on Monday afternoon.