Juana Lopez Velasquez and Ernestina Velasquez Bautista Injured in Napavine Hit-and-Run on Interstate 5, January 16, 2026

On January 16, 2026, a hit-and-run collision on Interstate 5 near Napavine, Washington, resulted in injuries to Juana Lopez Velasquez, 31, and Ernestina Velasquez Bautista, 48, both of Longview. The incident occurred at approximately 9:38 a.m. when a Toyota RAV4 carrying the victims was struck by a blue vehicle that abruptly changed lanes. The force of the impact caused the RAV4 to lose control, collide with a barrier, and roll before coming to rest on the left shoulder of the highway.

Velasquez and Velasquez Bautista were transported to Providence Centralia Hospital with injuries classified as non-life-threatening. The driver of the RAV4, Miguel Lopez Tercero, 51, and a 14-month-old passenger were also injured. The blue vehicle responsible for the crash fled southbound, and the incident remains under investigation by the Washington State Patrol. Authorities emphasize the challenges posed by hit-and-run incidents, which often involve intoxicated or unlicensed drivers, and caution that a thorough independent investigation is critical to ensure accountability.