Icy roads at heart of crashes, including three deaths

Vehicle crashes attributed in part to icy roads killed three people in the region in the last week, authorities said.

Richard Howe, 62, of Omak, died about 8:35 p.m. Nov. 21 on SR-155 six miles south of Disautel Pass.

Howe was wearing a seatbelt in the 2004 Ford F350 pickup as he lost control just after passing another vehicle, according to a Washington State Patrol investigation.

The pickup, headed north, fishtailed several times, went onto the shoulder on the southbound side of the road into an embankment and struck two trees, coming to rest on its top, the Patrol reported.

In Grant County, near Quincy, a 2004 Lexus struck and slid down the top of a guardrail, rolled over and came to rest on its top in an irrigation canal at Roads 5 and T Northwest.

It was about 8 p.m. Thursday, a Grant County Sheriff’s press release said.

The driver, Carrie Bock, 39, of Wenatchee was taken to a Wenatchee hospital and later to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Passenger Karen L. Bock, 73, died at the scene. Two passengers, 19 and 7, were treated for non-life-threatening injuries at Quincy Valley Medical Center.

Early Friday, a 31-year-old Royal City woman was killed in a one-vehicle rollover about five miles south of I-90.

Autumn Kynaston was driving a 1999 Lincoln Navigator south on Dodson Road sometime around 12:30 a.m. when she lost control on the icy road and the Lincoln rolled three-and-a-half times, coming to rest in a field, the GCSO said.

Kynaston was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the car. She died at the scene.

Excessive speed and alcohol contributed to this collision, authorities said.

Icy roads were noted in all the crashes.

They were also a factor when a charter bus carrying the University of Washington pep band to the annual Apple Cup football game in Pullman overturned on Thanksgiving about 5:30 p.m. on Interstate 90 about seven miles west of George with 52 on board.

The driver and 39 occupants were taken to regional hospitals. Others were taken to George Elementary School, the WSP reported.

News agencies reported that residents from George and Quincy turned out to bring the unlucky band members Thanksgiving dinner.

The UW band didn’t make the game, but the Washington State University band learned their fight song and played it for them during the game.