High-speed chase ends with wreck, deputy’s death

BELLINGHAM — A Whatcom County sheriff’s deputy was killed near Bellingham when the patrol car he was riding in crashed during a high-speed chase.

Matt Herzog, 27, a five-year veteran with the sheriff’s office, died of massive head injuries Thursday night. Deputy trainee James Triplett, who was driving the patrol car, was treated and released from St. Joseph Hospital.

The deputies were on patrol late Wednesday night when a car led them on a high-speed chase, Sheriff Dale Brandland said.

Bellingham police arrested a 19-year-old man Thursday night. Adrian Sassen Van Elsloo of Bellingham was being held for investigation of eluding officers.

College officials at odds: A community college president who was demoted a day after arguing budget matters with her chancellor at a public meeting has sued. Former Spokane Falls Community College President Diana Van Der Ploeg alleges that Community Colleges of Spokane chancellor Charles Taylor violated her First Amendment rights when he demoted and fired her. The lawsuit, filed last week in Spokane County Superior Court, seeks unspecified damages from Taylor for alleged economic loss, mental anguish and emotional distress. Van Der Ploeg is now the interim president of Olympic College in Bremerton.

Man on train tracks killed: A 27-year-old man died early Friday after being struck by a train as he lay on the tracks. Alex Bradley was killed instantly, said Salem Police Sgt. Mark Daniel. An engineer saw Bradley on the tracks and hit the brakes, but could not stop in time. "The train driver had his headlights on, had his bell operating. He was blowing his horn," Daniel said. The train was moving at about 33 to 35 miles per hour, a typical speed for the area, he said.

From Herald news services