GRANT COUNTY - A 10-year-old boy was behind the wheel when the family’s truck went into the irrigation canal last week.

The sheriff's office confirmed Monday Scott Kolves, 45, of Ephrata, was in the passenger seat of the vehicle, teaching his son how to drive along the canal access road near Summer Falls. Kolves reportedly grabbed the wheel in an attempt to keep the vehicle on the road before the vehicle plunged into the canal. The 10-year-old driver and his brother, 12, were rescued by two nearby fishermen.

Scott and his other son in the truck, Korey, 8, died in the incident.
More than 250 people attended Korey's funeral Saturday. In spite of many continued attempts by several agencies, including sheriff's deputies off-duty searching the canal, the body of Scott Kolves has not been found.

"The past eight days have been incredibly difficult for the family of Scott Kolves and Korey Kolves," Sheriff Tom Jones said in a statement. "By sharing this information, I am asking the public to remember the Kolves family and to continue to focus on supporting them cope with this terrible tragedy. This is not a time for criticism or unkind comments. This is a time for understanding."

For the full story, pick up a copy of today's Columbia Basin Herald.