The Franklin County Board of Commissioners and two state lawmakers will hold a public meeting Dec. 10 to start an “urgent regional discussion” after recent fatal crashes on Highway 395 north of Pasco. 

Recent fatalities on the highway that stretches from Pasco to Interstate 90 underscore the need for solutions, the officials said in a release.  

And it’s a conversation community members are asking for. The commissioners recently met with three community members advocating for safety improvements, just before one of the recent fatalities.

“As elected representatives, our No. 1 priority is public safety,” the commissioners said in a joint statement. “We believe it is our responsibility to take immediate and direct action on this issue. The need for immediate attention is urgent.” 

Kahlotus city Councilman Perrie Robitaille was killed in a crash at the intersection of Highway 395 and East Vineyard Road on Nov. 25. There were fatalities late this past summer at two other intersections along the highway, which has a long history of collisions, many of them fatal. 

State Sen. Nikki Torres, R-Pasco, and Rep. Mark Klicker, R-Walla Walla, are joining the commissioners in setting up the meeting, which is described as a workshop to identify potential safety improvements, engineering options, funding strategies and long-term planning. 

The meeting will be at 10 a.m. Dec. 10 at the HAPO Center, 6600 Burden Blvd., Pasco.