Vehicle hits cyclist in Soap Lake
NANCE BESTON | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 8 months, 4 weeks AGO
Grant County Fire District 7 responded to a vehicle and cyclist collision on Highway 28 near Franklin Street in Soap Lake Friday. The cyclist was wearing dark clothing without proper reflective gear, according to GCFD 7 Chief Burns. Burns strongly recommends both cyclists and pedestrians wear reflective vests and have some sort of light in front of them for vehicles to easier see them and prevent these types of collisions.
COURTESY PHOTO/GCFD 7
SOAP LAKE – Friday at around 8:15 p.m., Grant County Fire District 7 was dispatched to a vehicle vs. bicyclist collision on Highway 28 near Franklin Street in Soap Lake.
Upon arrival, responders found the bicyclist, who was wearing dark clothing, with minor injuries. The bicyclist was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
“There were previous reports of this person prior to the accident where people were reporting they nearly hit them,” GCFD7 Chief Chris Baker said. “So, this has been kind of an ongoing issue.”
The vehicle involved sustained significant front-end damage and was not drivable.
“Cyclists need to ensure that they are wearing reflective vests and abiding by the Washington State law,” Baker said. “Which is a white light to the front that's visible from 500 feet, a red reflector from the rear, or a red light.”
GCFD7 responded with one chief officer, one ambulance and one engine. They were assisted by the Soap Lake Police Department, Grant County Sheriff’s Office and Washington State Patrol, who are leading the investigation.
“The biggest thing is just to make sure that they're abiding with the traffic laws,” Baker said. “From what I understand, it's the same laws as the motor vehicle. So, you have to stop at stop signs. You have to be going in the flow of traffic. You can't be against the flow of traffic. So for example, if you are going northbound on the road, you cannot be driving on or riding your bicycle on the southbound side, against traffic. The use of hand signals for turning. Ensuring that if you're riding a bicycle, that you make good eye contact with drivers prior to making any evasive maneuver, such as turning onto a roadway, things like that. I think the biggest thing is just really ensuring that you're visible in this particular circumstance.”
Burns said GCFD7 deals with a handful of incidents between a bicyclist and a motor vehicle every year, however, he said the county sees a vehicle v. pedestrian or cyclist a couple of times a month. He strongly recommends that both pedestrians and bicyclists are visible, especially as the sun starts to go down to prevent incidents like this.
ARTICLES BY NANCE BESTON
Mayor Peter Sharp takes oath of office
SOAP LAKE – Grant County Commissioner Kevin Burgess adminstered the oath of office to Mayor Peter Sharp Wednesday. Sharp was previously appointed to this role at the Sept. 18, 2024, council meeting after his predecessor Allen DuPay quit during the Aug. 7, 2024, meeting.
Newhouse, colleagues introduce infrastructure bill
WASHINGTON D.C. — On November 21, 2025, a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers introduced the Urban Canal Modernization Act, HR 6279, aimed at addressing the deteriorating condition of urban canal infrastructure across the country. This legislation, sponsored by Representatives Dan Newhouse, R-WA; Mike Simpson, R-ID; Adam Gray, D-CA; and Russ Fulcher, R-ID focuses on providing federal support for the extraordinary operation and maintenance of urban canals deemed to be at significant risk of failure. “As communities in Grant County and elsewhere face serious risks from aging canal systems, it is imperative that we act now to ensure vital water infrastructure is maintained and upgraded,” Newhouse wrote in a statement. “The Bureau of Reclamation’s canals are in dire need of repairs, and the surrounding communities who rely on them would be at risk if they were to fail. This legislation provides local authorities with additional resources to manage these critical pieces of infrastructure while protecting the people and property around canals of concern.”
Ephrata water tower waiting for final tests
EPHRATA — The City of Ephrata is still waiting for the final testing to come back to the water tower. The city had originally hoped the tower would be connected to the water system by Thanksgiving; however, the intensive water testing is taking longer than anticipated.