Weekend storms wreak havoc on county roads

Whitman County road crews were out Friday, Saturday and Sunday last week dealing with storm-related damage on the east side of the county.

“Wawawai Canyon tried to remove itself from the map,” Mark Storey, Public Works director, reported to county commissioners Monday morning. He cited thunderstorms that came and parked over Wawawai Canyon and south of Garfield as overwhelming drainage areas, causing flooding and forcing road closures. Rock, sod, debris and trees were moved by the storm. Several loads of gravel had to be transported to fix damaged areas.

A cloudburst Sunday night damaged Highway 27 south of Garfield. The cloudburst also caused slides and debris on the LaDow Butte Road which intersects with Highway 27.

State crews were called out at about 6 p.m. Sunday with a report of mud and debris across Highway 27 just south of the Hemmingway Road intersection. Crews worked for four hours at the scene.

Frank N. Chen, Moscow, was the driver who was caught in the flood Sunday evening on Highway 27 south of Garfield. According to the Washington State Patrol report, Chen was driving northbound at 7:20 p.m. during the cloudburst that hit the Garfield area.

He attempted to dodge debris already on the roadway 1.31 miles south of Garfield and lost control of the 2016 Subaru Impreza due to the flooding. The Impreza went off the highway and into a water-filled ditch.

A state crew was back on the scene Monday morning to continue the cleanup, according to Tom Riebold, supervisor.

Rainfall for the short period of time was estimated at 1.5 inches, he noted.

He said Highway 27 sustained minor shoulder damage as a result of the cloudburst.

The heavy rainfall also damaged the railroad which runs along the highway after the line departs Garfield southbound.

Brandon Kruger, county operations supervisor, said LaDow Butte Road sustained damage in several locations. The road intersects with Highway 27 about two miles south of the site where debris hit Highway 27.

Storey advised residents to always pay attention when driving the back roads during or after a storm. He recommended not driving on a road covered in water as there may be a hole in it drivers cannot see.