Deputy crashes into guardrail

OTHELLO - An Adams County Sheriff's Office deputy lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a guardrail Nov. 2 while responding to a burglary call.

The Sheriff's Office has yet to identify the deputy; the Washington State Patrol is investigating the incident.

According to Sheriff Dale Wagner, deputies were dispatched to a call of a burglary in progress in the 2100 block of West Cunningham Road at about 6:43 a.m.

Records show the resident had woke up and found a man inside his house on the couch. The resident then held the man at gunpoint until deputies could arrive.

Deputies and Othello police later determined the man was intoxicated and mistakenly believed he was at a friends house, records show. He even rang the doorbell, before letting himself in.

The drunken man was cooperative and the resident requested he be issued a trespass warning and give a ride home, records show.

Meanwhile, a deputy en route to the call hit a wet stretch of road near the intersection of Taylor and Bench Roads, records show.

"The urgency of the call combined with road conditions led to a collision with the guardrail," Sheriff Dale Wagner said. "We are grateful that no serious injuries resulted from this collision. The Deputy is fine."

Wagner said the incident serves as a reminder that drivers should be cautious during inclement weather.

"We want to remind everyone to drive safely, especially in wet weather," he said. "Slower speeds and increased caution can make all the difference on slick roads. Your safety is our top priority, and we encourage everyone to take extra care during these rainy cold days."