PULLMAN – A tragic truck-motorcycle collision on Pullman-Albion Road near State Route 27 on July 16 claimed the lives of two WSU employees William (Bill) and Kathleen (Kathi) Russell.
The couple who lived in Albion, Wash., were killed when their 2005 Harley-Davidson collided with a truck on Pullman-Albion Road near state Route 27. The Russells were traveling on the Pullman-Albion road when a truck driven by Brandon Reynolds, 27, of Moscow, attempted to turn left into a private driveway in front of them, the Whitman County Sheriff’s Office said. This placed the pickup truck in the path of the motorcycle, which struck the front of the pickup truck at an angle.
Kathleen Russell, 59, was pronounced dead at the scene at approximately 2:45 p.m., according to the Whitman County Sheriff’s Office report. William Russell, 55, was transported to Pullman Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at approximately 4:15 p.m. Reynolds was not injured.
Whitman County Fire District 12 out of Pullman and the Pullman Police Department also
responded to the crash. The road was closed for a few hours while detectives were at the scene investigating the incident.
Bill Russell started working at WSU October 1999 as a custodian working on the day shift weekend crew. In September 2000 he began working full time at Dana Hall. Bill also worked in Daggy Hall and parts of Heald, Eastlick and Abelson. In November 2009 he transferred to swing shift, working at the Smith Center.
Bill worked in the floor laying shop during many of the summers and helped with projects in various campus buildings including the President’s residence. He was nominated for employee of the quarter in April 2005.
Kathi Russell started work at WSU in November 2000 in a staff position working swing shift in Smith Gym. In December 2000, she transferred to the day shift and worked in Johnson Hall, as well as Bustad Hall. In August 2007 she transferred to the Food Science Human Nutrition Group and began working in Avery Hall, then in 2008 moved to Hulbert Hall. Since November 2009 she has been working swing shift, most recently at Clark Hall.
Kathi was nominated for employee of the quarter on four occasions, April 2005, April 2006, April 2007 and July 2008.
Services for Bill and Kathi Russell are scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday July 22, at the Community Church in Albion. There will also be viewing at the Kimball Funeral Home on Wednesday.
Related:
- 07-16-10 KXLY-TV – Albion couple killed in Whitman County motorcycle crash