Moses Lake man dies in collision

WARDEN — A Moses Lake man died after his car struck the side of a semi-truck Tuesday, 3 miles north of Warden.

The man, Richard Martinez, 65, Moses Lake, was traveling northbound on Road U Southeast when he reportedly crossed the center lane, according to Grant County Chief Deputy Courtney Conklin.

Martinez was driving a 1995 Ford Contour when he reportedly struck the southbound semi-truck on the left front side, then continued to slide down the side of the truck driven by James Ewing, 45, Othello, according to the sheriff’s office.

Due to the impact of the collision, Martinez was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Conklin.

His passenger, Candida Garda, 31, Moses Lake, was not hurt in the fatality, said Conklin.

The semi-truck sustained damages to one of its left rear wheel tires, he said.

Authorities believe both vehicles involved were traveling at or near the 55 mph speed limit.

The semi-truck was registered to Jahns Construction, a company from Othello.

Washington State Patrol and Grant County Fire District 4 assisted the sheriff’s office with the investigation.

The fatality shut down the road for roughly six hours.

Authorities have asked that a toxicology report be preformed on Martinez.

“Alcohol may have been a factor in this,” said Conklin.