Money being raised for funeral of Connell firefighter who died in weekend rollover

Money is being raised to help pay for the funeral of a Connell firefighter who died after a rollover crash on Highway 395 north of Pasco early Sunday morning.

Steve Houston, 33, had lived in Connell for just a few years, according to a GoFundMe account.

But he quickly made friends and and was known for being eager to help others, without having to be asked first, it said.

“He joined the fire department in 2019 and quickly become the firefighter always ready to go, and typically first firefighter at the station,” posted fundraiser organizer Eric Mauseth, an owner and president of the Ed Poe Agency in Connell.

Houston leaves a wife, Larissa, who he married a year and a half ago.

Houston’s cousin posted on Facebook that, “He was an amazing guy just trying to get by.”

A friend posted on the fundraiser that Houston had become a pillar of the community, evidence “that you absolutely can change if you want to.”

“He was a positive presence in the lives of those he touched and he will be so incredibly missed,” she said.

People had donated $4,300 for funeral expenses by Wednesday afternoon.

At 2:30 a.m. Sunday, Houston rolled the Chrysler PT Cruiser he was driving about 11 miles north of Pasco and near Eltopia. He was not wearing a seat belt, said WSP investigators.

He died after being taken to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland. His passenger, Grey Ertl, 24, of West Richland, also was injured and was taken to Trios Southridge Hospital.

The cause of the crash is under investigation, according to the Washington State Patrol.

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office reported that the roadway was slick when they responded to assist troopers at the crash.