A trip in the mountains turned tragic for a Republic man the evening of July 13.
     Ferry County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched at 6:23 p.m. on a report of a vehicle having left Kompan Road near mile marker 1.1. The road runs off Empire Creek Road, reports Sheriff Pete Warner.
     Deputies arrived about nine minutes later. They found Alvin Arthur Avey III, 61, was southbound when his SUV went off the east side of the road and over a 50-foot embankment, Warner said.
     The vehicle rolled about three times before coming to rest on the driver’s side.
     Avey, who was not using a restraint, was partially ejected and suffered a severe head injury, said Warner, who said he was deceased at the scene.
     His wife Molly Kiichli Avey, 59, was a passenger who was using a restraint, said the sheriff. She suffered minor injuries including bruising to an arm.
     Warner said the couple apparently were looking at trees that had been snapped off during a windstorm through the area July 10.
     “He basically drove off the road and off an embankment,” said Warner, who said the couple had a small ranch off Empire Creek Road.