Man dies in accident near Mar Don

Other accidents send some to hospital; vehicle prowler caught

COLUMBIA BASIN — A number of accidents and other incidents kept emergency personnel busy over the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

A Zillah man died Friday night after reportedly rolling his vehicle in a single-car drunken driving accident near the Mar Don Resort. According to the Washington State Patrol, 51-year-old Ronald L. Schmidt was driving his 2003 Ford Excursion west on Highway 262 when he reportedly left the roadway to the left and rolled, coming to a rest on the south side of the roadway. The state patrol said Schmidt was reportedly driving under the influence when the crash occurred shortly after 10 p.m. The state patrol said Schmidt was transported to Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake where he was pronounced dead.

Westbound traffic was stalled on Interstate 90 for two hours Friday afternoon when a Cheney driver reportedly lost control in standing water, starting an accident which sent six people to the hospital and totaled three vehicles.

The accident was caused when a 2001 Volkswagen Jetta lost control and crossed lanes, coming to a rest in another lane of travel, the state patrol said. The crash also resulted in injuries to drivers and passengers in a 1997 Ford Pickup with 1999 travel trailer also traveling westbound on the interstate. All vehicles were totaled in the crash just after 3:20 p.m. The driver of the Volkswagen, Jessica Loren Meek, 25, of Cheney, suffered knee injuries and glass cuts and was transported to Samaritan Hospital. The state patrol said she would be charged with speed too fast for conditions.

Three passengers in the Volkswagen were also hospitalized for injuries following the crash.

The driver of a 1997 Ford Pickup, identified as 55-year-old Dorrel B. Sutherland of Idaho, was transported to Samaritan Hospital for a broken neck following the crash. A passenger in the Ford, 54-year-old Bonnie M. Sutherland, also of Idaho, was transported to Samaritan Hospital for a neck injury. A third passenger in the Ford was treated and released from the scene.

Traffic was stalled on westbound I-90 between the Highway 17 and Broadway Avenue exits for just over two hours following the crash at milepost 179, and was diverted through the Moses Lake business loop.

Moses Lake Police arrested 23-year-old David Debera of Moses Lake in connection with several vehicle prowls in the downtown area near McCosh Park over the weekend. According to police, one of the victims reportedly caught Debera inside the their vehicle and scared him off. Police later contacted Debera at his residence at about 9 p.m. Monday on the 1100 block of S. Division Street where he was in possession of numerous stolen items, including a .22 rifle. Debera's Ford Crown Victoria was impounded for a search warrant after more items were reportedly found inside, police said. Debera was arrested and booked into the Grant County Jail for second-degree vehicular prowling, first-degree possession of stolen property, alien in possession of a firearm, trafficking in stolen property, possession of under 40 grams of marijuana and obstructing.

Two Arkansas men were transported to Samaritan Hospital for injuries at about 6:20 a.m. Saturday after 22-year-old Fred D. Baker reportedly fell asleep at the wheel of his 2001 Chevrolet Pickup on westbound I-90, seven miles west of Moses Lake. The state patrol said Baker would be charged with wheels off the roadway and no seat belt.