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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Thursday, July 16, 2009 State trooper hurt in accident at golf tournament By Jerry Cornfield Herald Writer A 28-year-old state trooper from Stanwood is recovering from a serious injury suffered when a golf cart in which he was riding overturned at a benefit tournament in Wenatchee last week. Derek Anderson suffered a broken bone in his neck when the cart tipped over on a hill of the Highlander Golf Club where the state trooper association held the fundraising tourney last Friday. The cart’s driver, trooper Brandon Kendall of Pullman, was unhurt. Kendall had been drinking beer prior to the accident, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department. The investigating deputy did not find Kendall to be visibly intoxicated and concluded alcohol was not a factor in the accident, said Douglas County Sheriff Harvey Gjesdal. The case is closed, he said. Kendall, 29, will face no action from the Washington State Patrol either. “Because the Douglas County Sheriff determined there was no impairment, the chief sees no reason to move forward with any administrative action,” state patrol spokesman Capt. Jeff DeVere said. “This was an off-duty activity. It is not against the law to have a couple beers while you’re golfing,” he said. Anderson returned to his Stanwood home Monday, according to Lt. Bob Wright of the state patrol’s Marysville office where Anderson is based. The six-year veteran is expected to be off at least three months and work light duty upon returning, Wright said. Anderson and Kendall were playing in the seventh annual Jim Saunders Golf Tournament. Proceeds go to the Behind the Badge Foundation to assist survivors of officers killed in the line of duty. Gjesdal said the two troopers had driven up a hill to retrieve Anderson’s ball and were headed down when the cart rolled on the passenger side and on top of Anderson. There were reportedly no witnesses to the 10:51 a.m. accident. Gov. Chris Gregoire, who played in the tourney, spoke with Anderson before he was taken by ambulance to Central Washington Hospital. Wright said he was told doctors took a bone from Anderson’s hip and inserted it in his neck. Anderson was up and walking Monday with a neck brace, he said. Anderson lost some feeling in his hands but was not paralyzed because there was no damage to the spinal cord, Wright said. “Derek is a very lucky young man,” he said Reporter Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

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