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Ephrata man killed in SR 28 crash

by STAFF REPORT
Staff Report | September 11, 2025 11:18 AM

SOAP LAKE — An Ephrata man was killed Wednesday night when he lost control of the motorcycle he was riding and crashed. He was lying in the road and was discovered an undetermined amount of time later, when a second car struck him.  

Jesse Perez, 36, was pronounced dead at the scene, about nine miles east of Soap Lake, according to a press release from the Washington State Patrol. Perez’s body was discovered at about 9 p.m.  

Perez was driving east on State Route 28, according to the WSP memo, when he crashed his bike for what the WSP said were unknown reasons. He was ejected from the bike and ended up in the eastbound lane. 

The WSP memo said troopers don’t know how long Perez was in the road. A second car, driven by Yuri Bondarchuk, 53, Renton, discovered Perez, hitting him where he lay in the road, the memo said. 

State Route 28 was closed at Pinto Ridge Road for about four and a half hours, according to information from the Washington Department of Transportation. It reopened about 4 a.m.