Update | Tri-Cities woman hit by car while changing a tire along I-182 in Richland

A Kennewick woman was seriously injured after being hit by a car while trying to change a tire along the side of a Tri-Cities highway on Wednesday.

Washington State Patrol Trooper Chris Thorson told the Tri-City Herald that two cars were pulled over along the Pasco-bound lanes of Interstate 182 in Richland near the Columbia River bridge when a third car smashed into them.

The first car, a Hyundai passenger car, pulled over with a flat tire and the driver of a Kia SUV had stopped to help just before 1 p.m.

The Kia was pulled up behind the Hyundai with its hazard lights on. Both were completely out of the roadway, Thorson said.

Amoni Burks, 24, and Justus Emerson were outside of the cars changing the tire when a Toyota SJ Cruiser driven by Tyrel Bifano, 44, veered onto the shoulder and hit the cars.

Burks was seriously hurt and taken to Kadlec Regional Medical Center. Her injuries are not believed to be life threatening. Emerson was not hurt.

Bifano told troopers that he was attempting to change lanes when he drifted into the shoulder. He was ticketed for second-degree negligent driving.

Two of the three eastbound lanes were closed for about an hour while the roadway was cleared.