Warden man dies after jumping in front of car

WARDEN – A local elderly man was killed late Thursday night, June 1, after apparently jumping in front of a car on state Highway 17.

Jose Valencia, 80, of Warden, was pronounced dead at the scene at 10:53 p.m. near Milepost 42 north of Othello and west of Warden, the Washington State Patrol said. His next of kin was notified by the Grant County Medical Examiner’s Office.

The patrol said Valencia was standing on the northbound shoulder of the highway and “jumped into the northbound lane” as John K. Sharples, 53, of Moses Lake, approached in a 2009 Toyota Camry.

Sharples was unable to avoid hitting Valencia, and no charges are pending against the driver, whow as wearing a seatbelt and was not injured.

The patrol has yet to determine if drugs or alcohol was a factor in the crash.

Sharples’ vehicle was towed from the scene by Beeline-Agrifix II, the patrol said.