Man hospitalized from wreck at sand dunes

Eight crashes during Memorial Day weekend

MOSES LAKE - A Maple Valley man remained in satisfactory condition Tuesday after he was involved in a weekend crash at the Moses Lake Sand Dunes.

Grant Norwood, 21, was reportedly riding an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) along a road within the dunes about 8:30 p.m. Friday when a Ford Bronco allegedly hit the ATV head-on, said Grant County Chief Deputy Courtney Conklin.

The Ford Bronco, which had just come up over a small hill, was driven by Mark Archer, 24, of Moses Lake, Conklin said.

The Bronco apparently flipped over on top of the ATV, Conklin said.

Norwood was first taken to Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake and transferred to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle where he was listed in satisfactory condition, said a hospital spokesperson.

Archer was not injured.

There is no speed limit posted in the sand dunes, but drivers are required to exercise "due care and caution," Conklin said.

The collision is under investigation by the Grant County Sheriff's Office.

Witnesses reportedly said they believed the Bronco was traveling between 50 to 60 mph, Conklin said. Archer reportedly told deputies he was driving 40 mph, Conklin said.

"We don't really know at this point," Conklin said regarding the speed.

Alcohol was not believed to be a factor in the collision, Conklin said. Archer took a preliminary breath test, or PBT, which registered triple zeros, Conklin said.

On Friday night, about 3,000 people arrived at the dunes and some people left Saturday and Sunday because of the weather, Conklin said.

Twenty-seven citations and infractions were issued at the dunes, including ORV violations such as speeding, not using flags, not wearing helmets, leaving ORVs on roads and liquor violations, he said.

During the weekend, seven other minor crashes were reported at the Moses Lake Sand Dunes, including single-driver accidents.