CLARKSTON, WA – UPDATE – Asotin County Prosecutor and Coroner Ben Nichols succumbed to his injuries following a motorcycle crash at the intersection of Critchfield Road and Swallows Nest Drive at 11:59 a.m. According to the Asotin County Sheriff’s Office, Nichols was traveling eastbound on Critchfield Road and was just passing the intersection of Swallows Nest Drive when a Subaru SUV attempted to make a lefthand turn onto Swallows. The car, driven by 79-year-old Richard B. Hensley of Lewiston, collided with Nichols’ motorcycle.
Rescue personnel from the Asotin County Fire District #1 and Lewiston Fire Department arrived quickly and transported the unconscious Nichols to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center where, despite multiple efforts to save his life, he passed away due to the severe injuries he received in the collision.
The Sheriff’s Office says the investigation is ongoing at this time and more information will be released as it becomes available.
Nichols was a graduate of the Gonzaga Law School and was an attorney for nearly 30 years. He was also the President of the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys around 2014.
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CLARKSTON, WA – A 64-year-old male motorcycle rider was transported to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center just after noon with life-threatening injuries following a collision with another vehicle in the area of Critchfield Road and Swallows Nest Drive at 11:59 a.m. Rescue personnel from Asotin County Fire District #1 and Lewiston Ambulance arrived quickly and transported the rider, identified as Asotin County Prosecutor and Coroner Ben Nichols, to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center.
From Asotin County Sheriff’s Office:
On May 19th, 2023 at approximately 1159 hours Whitcom received a call for an injury collision at the intersection of Critchfield Rd and Swallows Nest Dr. Initial reports stated the accident was between a 4 door SUV and a motorcycle and the driver of the motorcycle was unconscious. Asotin County deputies responded along with the Asotin County Fire Department and medics from the Lewiston Fire Department.
The driver of the Subaru was identified as 79 year old Richard B Hensley from Lewiston. The driver of the motorcycle was identified as 64 year old Benjamin C. Nichols of Clarkston.
Based upon witness statements and the preliminary investigation, Mr. Nichols was travelling east on Critchfield Rd and Mr. Hensley was travelling west. Nichols was just passing the intersection of Swallows Nest Dr. when Hensley attempted to make a left hand turn onto Swallows Nest Dr and collided with Nichols.
Mr. Nichols suffered severe injuries and was taken to St. Joes Regional Medical Center and later Life Flighted to Sacred Heart in Spokane. Mr. Hensley did not suffer any injuries.
The investigation is ongoing at this time and more information will be released as it becomes available.
