Jefferson County sheriff’s cars collide near Quilcene

Published 12:01 am Tuesday, March 19, 2013

QUILCENE — Cars driven by two Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies collided Sunday morning when one attempted a U-turn and was struck by the other, Sheriff Tony Hernandez said Monday.

At around 9 a.m. Sunday, Deputy Kevin Denny was driving north on U.S. Highway 101 south of Quilcene when he was passed by a southbound car that was exceeding the speed limit, Hernandez said.

Denny turned on the lights of his patrol car and made the U-turn, and was hit by a car driven by Deputy Timothy Odell, which was in the southbound lane.

Both cars were damaged and are in the county shop, Hernandez said.

The motorist whom Denny was trying to pursue was not caught or ticketed, Hernandez said.

Neither deputy was reported injured.

Hernandez said the incident is under investigation and will be the subject of a driver’s review.

“We drove over a half-million miles last year, and accidents will happen, but we expect all of our deputies to drive within their means and with due care,” Hernandez said.