Biologist dies in Almota grade crash

Vehicle at crash site Thursday

A rollover accident at the top of the Almota grade took the life of Erich Parizek, 25, a fish biologist at Lower Granite Dam. The accident is believed to have occurred at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday but was not discovered until Thursday morning, Sept. 3. The 2006 Dodge pickup was found about 300 feet down a ravine below the Almota grade. Parizek was ejected from the truck and found uphill from the wrecked truck.

The WSP report said excessive speed was believed to have caused the accident. Parizek was driving down the grade and apparently lost control of the truck near the Aeschliman residence, which is uphill from the start of the guardrail along the Almota grade.

The WSP report said it could not be determined whether Parizek was wearing a seat belt. Whitman County Coroner Pete Martin was called to the scene to investigate. One rescue truck and two ambulances came to the scene.

Parizek had been employed at Lower Granite for the last six months as a fish biologist. He resided at Ilia Landing downstream from the dam on the Garfield County side. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin with a degree in biology, he was employed as a biologist in California before moving here.

Parizek was taken to Bruning Funeral Home in Colfax where arrangements were made to return him to Wisconsin. His parents reside in Two Rivers, Wis. Also among survivors are a brother and a sister.