Man involved in crash with Kettle Falls police SUV dies

A man whose pickup was struck by a Kettle Falls police SUV last month as the officer tried to pass him has died, the Washington State Patrol reported Tuesday evening.

Thomas R. Preston, 86, was northbound on U.S. Highway 395 about four miles north of Chewelah when the crash occurred on Sept. 24. He was in a line of traffic when he attempted to make a left-hand turn and was struck by a police SUV driven by Officer Timothy D. Dollar, 56. Dollar was attempting to pass Preston’s 2010 Chevy pickup and other cars in the southbound lane, WSP said.

WSP said at the time that Dollar was attempting to pull over a slow driver leading the line of traffic.

Preston, a Chewelah resident, was transported to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center where he died on Saturday, WSP said.

Dollar was treated and released the day of the crash from St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chewelah.

WSP said the collision was caused by Preston’s failure to yield right of way.

Dollar is an eight-year veteran of the Kettle Falls Police Department and was previously with Colville police.