SPOKANE, Wash. – The Washington State Patrol reported that in mid-July, a driver crashed his car into a light pole on I-90. After the crash, the driver ran into the roadway and was hit by a semi-truck while first responders were assisting him.
The Washington State Patrol has indicated that the incident may have been a suicide.
That tragic incident on I-90 has led to a day focused on remembrance and giving back.
The driver was identified as Ben James, who was a beloved church member and friend. Mike Sharapata, a close friend, spoke about James’ character.
“Everything he did was sweet and loving,” said Sharapata. “And more than anything he just wanted to be a good person.”
James was known for more than just his fond memories. He left behind a legacy of community service, particularly through a highway cleanup project.
“He would often times try to rally us together to do things like this highway cleanup project,” said Sharapata. “We had adopted that approximately a year and a half ago.”
The Adopt-A-Highway sign at the intersection of U.S. 195 and Thorpe holds a special meaning for James’ friends and family.
“That’s our little spot and right there at Thorpe you’ll see our sign that says adopt a highway,” Sharapata said.
James’ passion for cleaning up the mile stretch between Thorpe and Cheney-Spokane Road was well-known.
“He loved to take trash and turn it into something so that was part of his artist inclination,” said Sharapata.
Sharapata is determined to continue James’ work.
“We felt that it was important to not only have a remembrance of him and a funeral and stuff like that but also to do what he would want us to do,” Sharapata said.
Reflecting on the suddenness of life, Sharapata shared, “Life comes at you quick and can be taken away just as fast.”
Sharapata expressed the difficulty of losing someone and emphasized the importance of remembering James for his contributions rather than the way he died.
“Nothing speaks more to who he was individually as kind of completing his task for him,” Sharapata said. “So that’s what we’re trying to do.”
The community continues to honor James’ legacy by completing his mission of giving back.
