SHERIFF: Patrol car impact killed man

Deputy recovering from incident

OTHELLO - An investigation confirmed the impact of an Adams County Sheriff's Office patrol vehicle killed an Othello man June 7.

Deputy Kurt Berry, 24, was on duty conducting regular patrols on Taylor Road when he reportedly struck Leonel Maldonado Gonzalez, 33 of Othello, Sheriff Doug Barger said.

Maldonado Gonzalez was pronounced dead at the scene. Barger said Maldonado Gonzalez was lying in the roadway at the time of the impact.

The deputy was reportedly traveling behind two vehicles on Taylor Road, he said. The vehicle directly in front of Berry swerved to the left toward oncoming traffic. There was no collision but it caught Berry's attention.

When the deputy looked to his lane he saw Maldonado Gonzalez lying in the roadway in front of the patrol car but it was too late to avoid him, Barger said.

The deputy did not immediately know it was a person in the roadway, said Barger. It was after 10 p.m.

The Washington State Patrol was requested to conduct the investigation of the

incident, he said. Information concerning which vehicle Maldonado Gonzalez was traveling in was not released. Barger said Maldonado Gonzalez could have been in either vehicle.

All witnesses were interviewed and everyone is cooperating, Barger said.

Law enforcement is working to create a timeline of the incident because when Maldonado Gonzalez fell or jumped from the vehicle, a 9-1-1 call was made at about the same time from someone inside a vehicle.

Taylor Road is a 35 mph zone. Barger said excessive speed does not appear to be a factor in the accident.

Berry was not injured and the patrol vehicle sustained minor damage.

Barger said the deputy is recovering from the incident and continues to do his law enforcement duties.

"He would obviously prefer it never happened but unfortunately it did," he said. "He's a very nice young man. I certainly expect that he will be with us for a long time. He's got a good head on his shoulders."

Berry has worked for the sheriff's office for nine months.

An autopsy to determine Maldonado Gonzalez's injuries was scheduled for completion Tuesday. A report has yet to be released.

A toxicology report is expected to be concluded within two weeks. The report is to determine the extent of alcohol used by Maldonado Gonzalez.