QUINCY — The Washington State Patrol is investigating how a Grant County sheriff’s deputy on routine patrol was killed in a one-car rollover crash.
Deputy John Bernard died at the scene at 7:20 p.m. Sunday on a road nine miles south of Ephrata.
Washington State Patrol Trooper Rich Magnussen told The Wenatchee World a major accident investigation team from Seattle is handling the case.
Undersheriff John Turley said the road was wet, but there was no snow or ice.
Bernard was wearing a seat belt and was not on his way to an emergency but had just cleared another call.
The 52-year-old Moses Lake man was a four-year veteran of the sheriff’s office. He earlier was an Ephrata police officer for five years and a Grant County Corrections officer for five years.
Bernard leaves a wife and two sons, including Brandon Bernard, who also is a Grant County sheriff’s deputy.
Grant County will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
Sheriff Frank T. DeTrolio praised the fallen deputy.
“Deputy Bernard was a tireless public servant whose commitment to law enforcement and serving the citizens helped make Grant County a safer place,” DeTrolio said in a statement.
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