Soap Lake police chief totals new patrol truck in crash

MOSES LAKE — Soap Lake Police Chief Ryan Cox was injured in a two-vehicle collision Wednesday night while driving his department’s new patrol truck near Moses Lake.

About 10:40 p.m. Cox was driving the Soap Lake Police Department’s new 2015 Ford F-150 pickup truck south on state Route 17, about six miles north of Moses Lake. Cox reportedly drifted over the fog line and struck a 2004 Ford Freestar that was parked on the southbound SR-17 shoulder with its emergency flashers activated, according to the Washington State Patrol.

The pickup reportedly left the road to the right and came to a rest facing south. The Freestar remained where it was parked. Cox sustained injuries in the collision, but was not transported to a hospital for treatment. The 17-year-old male driver of the Freestar and his passengers, a 16-year-old boy, a 15-year-old girl and a 16-year-old girl, were not injured in the collision.

The patrol truck was totaled in the collision and towed back to Soap Lake. The Freestar was totaled as well and impounded. The patrol reports the cause of the collision is under investigation and citations are currently pending.

Cox was appointed SLPD chief in January after former chief Glenn Quantz resigned from the position over the summer to pursue other interests.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.