Recent WSU grad killed in rollover accident

A recent graduate of Washington State University whose parents emigrated from Russia more than 20 years ago was killed Wednesday evening in a one-vehicle rollover accident along the Snake River southwest of Pullman. Tanya Guseva, of Mukilteo, died at the scene on Almota Ferry Road near Ilia Landing in Garfield County, state troopers said. “She was an absolute delight in every way,” said David Hillestad, a business acquaintance. “She was very smart, friendly.” Guseva was riding as a passenger and was not wearing a seatbelt when she was thrown from the vehicle in the 5:15 p.m. accident. Troopers said speed and intoxicants were the apparent causes in what has become a vehicular homicide investigation. Injured were driver James P. Monsey, 23, of Liberty Lake, and Allison L. Beach, 22, of Woodinville. Both were not wearing seatbelts and were thrown from the vehicle. Monsey was reported in critical condition and Beach in fair condition at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Lewiston on Thursday. Monsey and Beach are listed as students in a directory at Washington State University, according to WSU spokesman Rob Strenge. Hillestad, the owner of David & Associates Real Estate in Everett, said Guseva had worked in his office in the summer of 2007 and that her mother has been selling real estate through his office for years. He identified her parents as Andrey and Irina Guseva. Tanya Guseva graduated two weeks ago with a bachelor’s degree in communications, Hillestad said, and had been planning to move to Europe to teach English. He said the other occupants of the vehicle apparently were friends, and that he had talked with Tanya Guseva’s boyfriend by telephone Thursday after the accident. Hillestad said that Andrey Guseva is a general contractor and marine engineer. Last summer, Tanya Guseva traveled to Israel and visited with relatives on her mother’s side of the family, he said. “We are all very, very devastated,” Hillestad said. Investigators said that Monsey was headed east on Almota Ferry Road when he lost control of his 1998 Toyota Land Rover. The vehicle rolled and came to rest in the east lane facing north. The vehicle was towed to a State Patrol facility in Kennewick. WSP Sgt. Terry Liebrecht said the case is being investigated as a vehicular homicide. He said that blood from the driver is being tested for intoxicants, but he declined to say if there was other evidence of impaired driving. Mike Prager can be reached at (509) 459-5454 or by e-mail at mikep@spokesman.com