Driver Deemed at Fault in Pedestrian Death Last December in Kennewick

Last December, a 60-year-old man died on Clearwater in Kennewick near Winco Foods after being struck by an SUV.

Tuesday, Kennewick police said the conclusion of their investigation is that the driver, 85-year-old Elmer Leroy Simmons of Pasco, was at fault. Simmons told police his accelerator became stuck prior to hitting David Paul Ratliff. Ratliff had just gotten off a Ben Franklin bus when he was hit by the Ford SUV driven by Simmons on Dec. 12.

The investigation found no mechanical problems with the vehicle at the time of the accident. This is according to information released by the city.

Kennewick police said Simmons will be cited for second-degree negligent driving. The Benton County Prosecuting Attorney's Office and Kennewick City Attorney reviewed the police findings before the results of the investigation were released.