A tragic late-night crash has left the community mourning after 24-year-old Kasey J. Emery lost her life in a two-vehicle collision Saturday night near Entiat. The devastating accident occurred along State Route 97A, north of the small town, and has left family, friends, and loved ones grieving the sudden loss of a young life taken far too soon.
According to the Washington State Patrol, the crash occurred at approximately 9:55 p.m. on March 14 near milepost 220 on the highway. Investigators reported that both vehicles involved in the crash were traveling northbound at the time of the incident. Authorities say the collision happened when one of the vehicles attempted to make a right turn while another vehicle was traveling behind it.
Officials said the following vehicle failed to yield as the lead vehicle began turning, causing it to strike the vehicle from behind. The force of the impact left both vehicles heavily damaged and disabled on the roadway. Debris from the crash blocked both the northbound and southbound lanes of the highway, creating a dangerous situation for other motorists traveling through the area.
Authorities later identified the victim as Kasey J. Emery, 24, of Chelan. She was riding as a passenger in the first vehicle involved in the collision. Investigators reported that Emery was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash and was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. Deputies from Chelan County Sheriff’s Office later notified her family of the heartbreaking loss.
The driver of the same vehicle, Jaiden C. Buyas, 24, of Entiat, was injured in the crash and transported to Central Valley Hospital for treatment. Authorities said Buyas was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision. Meanwhile, the driver of the second vehicle, Merlee I. Liberty, 27, of Coulee Dam, and her passenger, Derek C. Graham, 24, of East Wenatchee, were not injured and were both wearing seatbelts.
Investigators reported that drugs or alcohol were involved in the crash, though officials have not yet released details about the exact role those factors may have played. The vehicles involved included a 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer, which was totaled in the crash, and a 2024 Ford F-450 that sustained significant damage. The tragic collision remains under investigation as authorities work to determine all the circumstances surrounding the fatal crash.
