Update: Sheriff's Office confirms 1 deceased in Walla Walla River near Touchet

The Walla Walla County Sheriff's Office found one person deceased near an upside-down car in the Walla Walla River near Touchet on Wednesday, June 3, Undersheriff Joe Klundt confirmed.

WWCSO deputies responded Wednesday afternoon to a report of a vehicle upside-down in the Walla Walla River near Byrnes Road, south of U.S. 12 and west of Touchet.

Klundt said deputies saw "what appears to be a deceased body" outside of the vehicle at 4:30 p.m. Shortly after 5 p.m. he confirmed that it was deceased person.

Klundt said the person was likely the sole occupant of the vehicle. The vehicle likely went off Byrnes Road and slid down an embankment into the river the prior night, Tuesday, June 2, he said.

Klundt said deputies were still on the scene investigating. The cause of death and the cause of the crash had not been determined. He provided no further information on the details of the crash or the identity of the person.

This story is developing and has been updated.

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This story was originally published June 3, 2026 at 10:08 PM.