Sheriff's deputy involved in crash
A Grant County sheriff's deputy was involved in a collision last Friday in Moses Lake.
MOSES LAKE — A Grant County sheriff’s deputy was involved in a two-vehicle collision in Moses Lake Aug. 6, while on duty.
MOSES LAKE - A Grant County sheriff's deputy was involved in a two-vehicle collision in Moses Lake Aug. 6, while on duty.
Deputy Joe Harris was traveling northbound on state Route 17, approaching Broadway Avenue in a Jeep Liberty, the Grant County Sheriff's Office reported. He reportedly struck the rear of a Chevrolet truck that stopped for the traffic light that changed from green to yellow.
Harris noted in a Washington State Patrol collision investigation statement that it appeared the driver of the truck sped up to travel through the yellow light, so he also sped up to make the light. He explained there was enough time for each vehicle to drive through the light before it turned red. When the driver reached the stop line, he reportedly stopped immediately, Harris stated.
"I braked as hard as I could and struck the white pickup in the rear-end," Harris stated.
The driver of the truck, Ermal L. Brandon, 76, Ephrata, explained in a statement that when he began to stop for the yellow light, he was struck from behind by Harris.
The rear of the Chevrolet truck appeared to have minimal damage. The front of the Jeep Liberty sustained about $3,000 in damage.
Injuries were not reported to either driver.
"The deputy is facing an internal accident review board investigation to determine if the collision was preventable," Grant County Undersheriff John Turley explained. "If found to have been a preventable collision, Deputy Harris may face one to two days suspension without pay."
He noted Harris was involved in a one-vehicle collision in the past during which weather conditions were foggy and icy. The vehicle was totaled in the accident.
When a member of law enforcement is involved in a collision while on duty, the incident is investigated internally as well as by an outside police agency. The state patrol was involved in investigating the deputy's collision.