Trooper crashes avoiding road debris

RITZVILLE — A Washington State Patrol trooper rolled his patrol car attempting to avoid striking a camping tent in the roadway on Interstate 90, one mile east of Ritzville.

Joseph Charles Hardin, 25, Spokane Valley, was traveling westbound on the interstate in a 1997 Dodge Ram truck Thursday night, the state patrol reported. An unsecured camping tent reportedly fell out of the back of the truck bed and into the path of the trooper.

Trooper Dustin C. Stephan, 24, Cheney, reportedly swerved the 2005 Crown Victoria to the right of the interstate in an attempt to avoid the tent. The patrol car left the roadway, struck the embankment and rolled, the state patrol reported.

Stephan was transported to Ritzville Hospital by Ritzville police for unspecified injuries. He was released the same day.

Hardin was cited for failure to secure a load.

The patrol car was totaled and towed from the scene.

— Staff report