Accident claims truck driver’s life

A 61-year-old man died after being trapped upside-down in a submerged truck Thursday morning near Deer Park.

Terry Lee Sharp, of Newman Lake, was underwater for about 20 minutes in Dragoon Creek, which is swollen with spring runoff. Sgt. Dave Reagan, of the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, reported that Sharp had a heartbeat when he was flown from the scene by helicopter but died at a hospital.

Sheriff’s deputies said Sharp reportedly swerved his Peterbilt truck to avoid rear-ending another truck at a stop sign at Monroe and Burroughs roads about 9 a.m. Thursday.

Both trucks were from Green Mountain Construction and Drilling Inc. out of Newman Lake, witnesses said.

Sharp’s truck crashed through a guardrail and knocked aside a concrete jersey barrier, emergency workers said. The truck dropped about 10 feet to the creek below, landing upside-down with the cab submerged. The truck, which was carrying pipe, was badly damaged.

Green Mountain employees unsuccessfully tried to use the second truck to drag Sharp’s Peterbilt from the creek, Reagan said.

Deputy Al Rollins and another person went into the creek, trying to free Sharp, who was eventually was extricated by firefighters.