Labor Day weekend ends with several accidents

Busy holiday weekend proves relatively calm with less visitors

GRANT COUNTY — Labor Day proved a relatively calm affair countywide, according to the Grant County Sheriff's Office.

"We didn't have nearly the problems this year," said Chief Deputy John Turley. "And that's because we didn't have nearly as many people."

In the Moses Lake and Beverly sand dunes where Grant County Commissioners banned alcohol earlier this year, the GCSO had no problems to report.

Turley said the high price of gas was likely a factor that kept many people home during the three-day weekend.

There were only three minor ORV-related accidents that were reported in the county over the Labor Day weekend, according to the GCSO. Two accidents occurred at the Moses Lake sand dunes, along with one four-wheeler accident near Electric City.

"We had half as much boat traffic as last year," Turley added, though a boat did capsize on the Columbia River and one jet ski rider was injured at Park Lake.

Two men whose boat was capsized around 5 p.m. Sunday due to high winds and waves on the Columbia River near Sunland Estates south of the Gorge Amphitheatre were recovered and were not injured.

Forty-year old Steven R. Graves, Puyallup, and passenger Joshua J. Bechard, 23, of Puyallup, were traveling in a 20-foot Laveycraft powerboat when it capsized.

A bystander recovered the boat.

Also on local waters, a 15-year-old boy received serious head injuries while riding a rented jet ski on Park Lake on Saturday afternoon.

The accident victim apparently hit a rock wall along the canyon at about 40 miles per hour and ended up face down and unconscious in the water, according to the GCSO.

Lisa Lee of Spokane witnessed the accident and rescued the victim by turning him over on his back to prevent him from downing, the GCSO said.

The victim was eventually transported to Samaritan Hospital, but his condition is unknown at this time.

In Quincy, a one vehicle rollover accident Monday evening ended in both minor injuries and a citation for driving under the influence of alcohol for one resident.

Nicona L. Butler, 26, was driving his 2001 Honda Accord eastbound on Road 9 NW when, after just passing the intersection at Road S NW, he crossed over the centerline and drove into the ditch on the opposite side of the roadway, the GCSO said.

Butler apparently over-corrected the vehicle as it slid sideways for a short distance in the soft dirt of the shoulder where it then rolled one time, the GCSO stated.

He was then taken to Quincy Valley Hospital with minor injuries. He was processed for driving under the influence when a hospital nurse took a blood draw.

Butler's vehicle was towed from the scene.