Local young man dies in auto accident

A young Electric City man was killed and another man injured last week in a one-car rollover about a mile south of Electric City.

Brandon Buche, 23, had recently finished a tour with the U.S. Navy, where he served as an electrician’s mate. He was employed at Safeway in Grand Coulee while working to pursue a career with electricity.

Around 2 a.m. Wednesday morning, Buche was driving a 2006 Jeep Wrangler on Bay Area Drive near Coulee View Road when he failed to negotiate a curve in the road, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office reported.

The Jeep left the roadway, tripped on a soft gravel ditch and rolled one-and-one-quarter times, the sheriff’s office reported.

Buche was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown from the vehicle.

Buche’s passenger, 23-year-old Brandon Boutain of Almira, suffered non-life-threatening injuries. He was taken to Coulee Medical Center where he was treated and released.

Alcohol played a role in the collision, the sheriff’s office said.

Friends and loved ones remembered Brandon Buche on Facebook.

“I don’t think it was possible to spend any amount of time with Brandon and not laugh!” commented Shirley Gloyn. “He just always wanted to make everyone laugh!”

“Wish I could hear one more joke, have one more laugh with ya or even listen to a never-ending Navy story just one more time,” added Kenny Burda.

A viewing at Strate Funeral Home Saturday was attended by hundreds, and his family plans a tribute to his life at a later date so that out-of-area family, friends and “Navy family” can attend.