In brief: Aggressive driver shot by police

YAKIMA – Yakima police said a 24-year-old man was fatally shot by an officer after the man rammed several police vehicles and attempted to flee.

The Yakima Herald-Republic reported that a patrol officer pulled over a car driving erratically Saturday night. After the vehicle pulled over, it rammed the officer’s car and fled. Other police vehicles joined the pursuit and the suspect drove onto a freeway on-ramp, where it got struck. The driver then began ramming police cars around him. That’s when a police officer began shooting.

The man died at a local hospital. The officer who fired the shots was placed on routine administrative leave.

The investigation remains open.

Deputy surrenders after investigation

PORTLAND – Oregon state police said a 42-year-old Lake County sheriff’s deputy has turned himself in following an investigation that he had a sexual relationship with a missing teenage girl.

Authorities sent out statewide alerts Sunday for 17-year-old Marriah F. Andrews. She was found Sunday afternoon after she contacted authorities.

State police said Kenneth Turkle turned himself in Sunday morning. A warrant for his arrest was issued Saturday. The deputy was wanted on third-degree sex abuse and contributing to sexual delinquency of a minor. The deputy had resigned from his post a week ago following the revelation of an investigation.

Before she was reported missing, Andrews was last seen in the Grants Pass area with a man identified as Turkle by witnesses on Friday morning.

Turkle had worked with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office for 10 years.

Driver charged in head-on collision

RICHLAND – A Walla Walla man who passed vehicles in a no-pass zone and crashed head-on into another car is facing penalties that could be as severe as a life sentence.

The Tri-City Herald reported that 39-year-old Henry Lee Thacker has been charged with two counts each of vehicular homicide and vehicular assault. Vehicular homicide carries a penalty as high as a life sentence.

Investigators say Thacker didn’t give himself enough time to pass other vehicles on Highway 12 near the Wallula Junction in October 2012. His decision to keep driving in the oncoming lane, even after entering a “no passing zone,” forced at least three cars onto the shoulder. One vehicle coming in from a blind right-hand curve, though, couldn’t avoid colliding with Thacker. Passengers in both vehicles died.