70-year-old killed in fiery crash on Kennewick golf course

Investigators are working to determine why a 70-year-old Richland driver veered off a Kennewick street, hit a tree and died Thursday.

Bradley Butherus Sr. was dead when the first firefighters and police arrived to find his 1991 GMC van on fire on the Canyon Lakes Golf Course, Commander Isaac Merkl told the Tri-City Herald.

Investigators believe Butherus was heading south on Canyon Lakes Drive when the van crossed the street and sidewalk, ending up on the golf course about 3:40 p.m., Merkl said.

The van hit a tree, and he was partially thrown out as the van spun and caught fire.

The crash was near the 8th fairway on the west side of the Canyon Lakes housing community and golf course.

Merkl said they are trying to determine whether speed, alcohol or other factors contributed to the crash.

“It’s really unknown what caused him to veer off the road and strike the tree,” Merkl said.

Anyone who may have seen something is asked to call the non-emergency dispatch number at 509-628-0333 of submit a tip through kpdtips.com.

Kennewick officer crash

A Kennewick officer responding to the Canyon Lakes crash ended up in her own collision at the corner of Highway 395 and 27th Avenue.

The officer was driving east on 27th Avenue with her emergency lights on when she drove into the intersection with the highway and was hit by a box truck heading south, said Washington State Patrol Trooper Daniel Mosqueda.

The collision sent the patrol car spinning into the northbound lanes where it hit a pickup truck.

Mosqueda said the officer was treated at a local hospital. Neither of the other drivers were hurt.

The patrol car and the pickup were towed from the scene, Mosqueda said.