Sunday, Sep. 07, 2008

Victim identified in fatal Richland crash

By Franny White, Herald staff writer

The man who died in a fiery George Washington Way crash Friday has been identified as David R. Kelso of Richland, Benton County Coroner Rick Corson said Saturday.

Kelso, 51, had been the manager of Prosser Memorial Hospital's surgery department since earlier this year, hospital spokesman Jason Jones said. Kelso came here from New Mexico.

He and his two dogs, who were sitting at his side, were killed in the crash at 4:35 p.m. Friday in a head-on collision with a rock hauler truck.

Kelso's 1999 Dodge pickup was heading north on George Washington Way when it lost control and crossed into the southbound lanes, the Washington State Patrol reported.

A 2007 Western Star dump truck driven by Timothy L. Anderson, 34, of Pilot Rock, Ore., collided with the pickup, causing a fire. Anderson was not hurt but Kelso's truck was crushed.

Corson said he will look into Kelso's medical history and will test for drugs or alcohol before deciding if an autopsy is needed.

Kelso had two dogs that he took to visit patients at the hospital's long-term care unit about once a week, Jones said.

"He loved his dogs and just liked to share them," Jones said.

The dogs, a 4-year-old Japanese Akita named Casper and a 3-year-old German shepherd named Lakota, were certified for both therapy and search and rescue, said Lou Hamilton, who had cared for Kelso's dogs at Sunshine's Doggy Resort & Daycare in Prosser since June.

"He was so excited to be alive," Hamilton said. "He was positive and upbeat. ... You felt good if you came across him."

Jones said the hospital enjoyed Kelso's enthusiastic personality.

"In his short time here, he made an impact, both personally and professionally," Jones said. "He will truly be missed."

It could be a while until the state patrol determines the accident's cause, said Trooper Brian Bond. Toxicology tests take weeks and a lot of the evidence was destroyed in the fire that followed the crash, he said.