Above is the diagram of the crash as included in the police report. The diagram indicates the sheriff’s deputy turned right on the red light and hit another driver. (Graphic submitted)
While a witness reported that an elderly woman had run a red light causing a Tuesday afternoon crash with a sheriff’s cruiser, dashcam footage offered a different account and now a deputy will be cited.
According to a report from the Marysville Division of Police, about 4:36 p.m. Tuesday, Deputy Morgan Brown was driving a county-owned 2017 Ford Explorer south on London Avenue. As he attempted to turn west onto Ninth Avenue he drove into the path of a 2003 Dodge Stratus driven by Mary Lee Kesterson, 85, of Marysville.
A witness at the scene apparently told investigators that the deputy had the green light and Kesterson had driven through a red light.
“That’s what the witness said,” Marysville Deputy Police Chief Tony Brooks said this morning. “The driver of the other vehicle (Brown) said he wasn’t sure.”
Brooks said that at the time of the crash, the deputy told investigators “he didn’t know” what the traffic signal was when he turned.
The original report reflected the witnesses account and listed Kesterson as being at fault. The report indicated she would be cited after investigators reviewed footage from the deputy’s vehicle camera.
After watching the video, officials changed the description of the accident.
The new report listed Kesterson as having the green light and said the deputy turned in front of her.
“She had the right of way,” Brooks said.
Brown hit the rear corner of Kesterson’s vehicle, which was inoperable and had to be towed from the scene.
Brooks added that Brown will “be listed at fault and will be issued a citation.”
He said nature of the citation would be up to the discretion of the supervisor completing the report.
“It happens sometimes,” Brooks said. “It happens with our agency from time to time. We are all human.”