Othello man found dead

RITZVILLE - An Othello man was found dead on the side of a road near Othello on Saturday.

The Adams County Sheriff's Office received reports of a man lying on the side of Highway 24, by mile post 74, near Othello, according to information released Monday by the sheriff's office.

When deputies arrived, they found Joaquin Rodriguez, 29, of Othello, along side the road.

Rodriguez was unresponsive and determined to be dead, according to the sheriff's office.

Deputies later found Rodriquez's vehicle at the bottom of a steep cliff off the north side of Highway 24, about 250 yards northwest from where Rodriguez was found.

Deputies believe Rodriguez was traveling west on Highway 24.

Rodriquez's cause of death, or why he was found so far from his vehicle, are not known.

Troopers from the Washington State Patrol assisted the sheriff's office at the incident scene.

The case is under investigation.