1 Car Rollover Accident Resulted in Fatality

One vehicle heading northbound on State Route 155, near milepost 52, eight miles north of Tonasket in Okanogan County rolled over Friday morning and resulted in the fatality of the single occupant in the car. Washington State Patrol Trooper John Bryant stated the notification of the accident came from a Colville Tribal police officer.

"A Colville Tribal police officer came upon a rolled over vehicle in the roadway and checked on it and found one occupant, the driver, deceased at the scene," said Trooper Bryant.

The individual was Joseph Gutierrez, 43, of Tonasket. Washington State Patrol investigated the accident and Gutierrez's vehicle left the roadway, to the right and at this time it's unknown why.

"It (the vehicle) went about 75 yards and struck a rock, there are a lot of jagged rocks in that area, and rolled twice, came back in the roadway and stopped on its wheels facing westbound," said Trooper Bryant.

The roadway was blocked for several hours for the investigation and Washington State Department of Transportation set up alternate routes.