Coulee City woman dies in crash

Two-vehicle

collision near Ritzville

By Candice Boutilier

Herald staff writer

RITZVILLE - A Coulee City woman died Wednesday afternoon after she reportedly drove in reverse on Interstate 90, colliding with another vehicle, 9 miles east of Ritzville.

Three other people were involved in the collision and one person was treated for injuries, the Washington State Patrol reported.

Elizabeth M. Dearden, 67, Coulee City, was reportedly traveling westbound on I-90 in a 1992 Chrysler New Yorker when she pulled over to the left shoulder, the state patrol advised. She was allegedly attempting to enter the turn-around area located in the median by driving the vehicle backward.

When Dearden drove the vehicle backward, she was reportedly struck by an oncoming vehicle on the interstate, the state patrol reported.

She was pronounced dead at the scene and her next of kin was notified by a trooper Wednesday night.

A 16-year-old Coulee City female, who was a passenger in the 1992 Chrysler New Yorker, was transported to Ritzville Hospital for undisclosed injuries.

John W. Bradford, 68, Missoula, Mont., was the driver of the oncoming vehicle, a 1997 Dodge van and was reportedly not injured, the state patrol advised.

Mark T. Bradford, 31, Missoula, Mont., a passenger in the van, was not injured either.

According to the state patrol, the cause of the collision was due to improper backing.

Both vehicles were totaled and towed from the scene.

The Columbia Basin Herald was unable to reach family of Dearden for comment.