PORT TOWNSEND — An investigation is underway into a wreck involving an on-duty Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputy.
Both Deputy Ryan Menday and Don Boehnlein, 62, of Sedro-Wooley said that they were unhurt in the wreck, according to Undersheriff Art Frank. The wreck was at intersection of state Highway 20 and Engle Road at about 11:50 a.m. Friday.
“The investigation is ongoing but the preliminary information is that the deputy entered Highway 20 from Engle Road and did not yield to the other vehicle that was traveling north on Highway 20,” Frank said in an email on Saturday.
The investigation is being handled by a Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office deputy trained in collision investigation, Frank said.
No action has been taken against Menday, Frank said.
“First, there has to be an investigation of the collision and report and then an internal review by the sheriff before a suspension would even be considered,” Frank said, adding that “the process should move quickly.”
Both vehicles sustained extensive damage and were towed from the scene, the undersheriff said.
At the time of the crash, Menday was en route to assist another deputy several miles away who was following a vehicle that had erroneously been reported stolen, Frank said.
“When the company that owns the vehicle “made the report to another law enforcement agency it appears they reported the wrong vehicle stolen,” Frank said.
The deputy following the allegedly stolen vehicle stopped it and determined that the car was not stolen; the driver was an employee of the company and lawfully in possession of the van.
The driver was released at the scene and drove the vehicle from the scene. The vehicle was removed from the database so the driver will not be stopped in the future, Frank said.
