Man struck while walking in roadway

OTHELLO - An Othello man died early Sunday morning when he was reportedly struck by a snowplow on state Route 26 in Othello.

Eleazar Garza, 47, Othello, was reportedly removing snow from the roadway in a 2003 International dump truck in the eastbound lane of the highway, the Washington State Patrol reported. While the driver was removing snow from the eastbound shoulder with the plow, he reportedly struck a pedestrian.

Armando Barragan, 30, Othello, was reportedly struck while walking westbound near the eastbound shoulder in the roadway a few minutes after midnight, the state patrol reported.

Barragan reportedly died at the scene and was transported to Stevens Funeral Home, the state patrol advised.

Garza was reportedly not injured and no damage was done to the dump truck snowplow.

State Trooper Rich Magnussen said the incident remains under investigation while they evaluate the factors preventing the driver from seeing the pedestrian in the roadway.

He said it was dark outside and they are evaluating the weather conditions to see if extreme snowfall was a factor inhibiting vision.

According to the state patrol the cause of the collision was due to the pedestrian walking on the shoulder in the roadway. No citations were issued.