Fatal accident takes life of photographer

An accident at the North Pullman bypass of Highway 195 last Wednesday, Jan. 19, took the life of a Canadian man who was traveling through the area. Peter A. Denney, 66, Sundre, Alberta, was pronounced dead at the scene which was just north of the bypass on 195 west of Pullman.

According to the Washington State Patrol report, Denney stepped in front of a northbound pickup truck after stopping to take photos of a winter scene from the north side of the highway. The accident happened about 9:06 a.m.

Denney and his wife, who were on a vacation in the area, had stopped along the southbound side of the highway, and he walked across the highway to take pictures of the winter scene from the north side. After taking photos, he started back across the highway and stepped in front of the pickup truck.

The driver of the 2006 Ford F150 pickup, Alvin L. Howerton, 72, Lewiston, had no time to react. He was unhurt.

Troopers are unable to ascertain why Mr. Denney failed to see the pickup truck as he started back across the highway. The accident was just north of the merger zone for northbound traffic at the bypass intersection. Mr. Denney might have confused the northbound merger lane, which was unoccupied, with the actual northbound lane of the Highway 195 where Howerton was driving. Also the angle of the morning sun could have been a factor in the fatal accident.

The highway was blocked off during the accident investigation and the deputy coroner was called to the scene. Mr. Denney was taken to Kimball Funeral Home at Pullman. Sundre, Alberta, is located about 70 miles northwest of Calgary.