Two die in weekend accidents in Basin

GRANT COUNTY — Two separate vehicle accidents ended fatally over the weekend in Grant County, including one that authorities believe involved alcohol.

On Saturday morning, J. Lenor Leyva Rodriguez, 45, of Sunnyside, died after the pickup truck he was driving left the roadway and crashed into an irrigation canal filled with water, according to the Grant County Sheriff's Office.

Rodriguez was traveling northbound on Beverly Burke Road about 12 miles west of Royal City when his 1986 Ford F2 pickup and 2001 utility trailer drifted onto the shoulder of the road. Rodriguez apparently overcorrected, causing the vehicle to end up in the canal, the sheriff's office stated.

Roberto Bedolla and his son Roberto, Jr., of Outlook, witnessed the accident after passing Rodriguez's vehicle, they told investigators. The two witnesses then turned around and returned to the scene to help, but said they found Rodriguez's vehicle totally submerged.

Rodriguez apparently died in his vehicle, the sheriff's office stated.

On Sunday, a 23-year-old Quincy woman died as a result of a one-vehicle accident authorities believe involved drinking and driving, the sheriff's office stated.

The accident occurred about four miles southeast of Quincy where Road O NW converges with Road 8.5 NW.

Five people were riding in a 1998 Toyota extended cab pickup truck when the driver failed to negotiate a curve in the roadway.

The vehicle left the roadway, slid on gravel, jumped a small embankment and ended up in an empty farm ditch.

The driver, Graciel J. Watkins, 24, of Quincy, and Daisy D. Navarro, 23, of Quincy, were trapped in the vehicle and eventually removed by emergency personnel, the sheriff's office stated.

Three other juvenile passengers from Quincy suffered severe head and facial

lacerations.

Watkins, who authorities believe was intoxicated, submitted to a blood draw while being stabilized at Quincy Valley Hospital, the sheriff's office reported. She was then flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

The blood samples will be sent to the Washington State Crime Lab for analysis.

Navarro, the front seat passenger, received severe head and chest injuries and was later pronounced dead after being flown to Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee.

Investigators believe all five were under the influence of alcohol, the sheriff's office stated.