Train versus vehicle claims life of well-known Ritzville man

Joshua Draper, a 30-year-old Ritzville resident was killed in the early morning hours of Thursday, May 31, as the result of a tragic train versus vehicle accident at the Tokio Road Crossing.

Adams County Sheriff’s Undersheriff John Hunt said Tuesday, June 5, that the investigation is ongoing. The agency is waiting for the results of a toxicology report, which could take up to four weeks.

Following the accident, the sheriff’s office issued a press release to all area media.

That information has appeared in newspapers, television and radio broadcasts and websites across the state.

This is the third person killed in connection with a train in the past two years. The others were pedestrians and died within the Ritzville City Limits.

According to the sheriff’s office press release, this is what is known:

“On May 31, 2012 at about 0117 hours (1:17 a.m.) the Adams County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a train versus vehicle collision at the Tokio Road crossing located near the intersection of Tokio Road and Danekas Road, about seven miles east of Ritzville. Pronounced deceased at the scene was Joshua Draper (30 years of age) a resident of Ritzville. Preliminary investigation indicates that Draper was parked on the track between the crossing arms facing northbound when a south bound coal train struck his 1993 Ford Explorer dragging it down the track about 90 feet. It is unknown at this time why he had stopped his vehicle on the railroad tracks. This case is still under investigation.”