News Bites for Sept. 6, 2023

MARDON — An overturned semi left State Route 262 closed Tuesday afternoon, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

The driver, who was not identified, was hauling a load of potatoes across O’Sullivan Dam when he failed to negotiate a curve and rolled the truck on its side, the GCSO wrote. The vehicle blocked the highway completely. A fuel leak was briefly reported, but it was quickly contained and no fuel got into the reservoir.

The highway remained closed at press time with no estimate on when it would reopen, as the blockage was in a narrow spot and it was difficult to get a tow truck to it, the GCSO wrote.

MOSES LAKE — A driver died Monday night after crashing his vehicle and then being electrocuted, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

The man, whose identity and city of residence had not been released at press time, was driving north on Road W Northeast near Ruff around 11 p.m., according to the statement. The vehicle, for reasons not yet known, crossed the road and landed in the barrow ditch, striking a power pole. The pole sheared in half and power lines fell above the vehicle. Investigators determined the driver died after he got out of the vehicle and came into contact with the energized power lines. Firefighters extinguished a small brush fire which consumed the vehicle.

The collision is under investigation, the statement said.