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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Man Killed While Walking Across I-90

A man trying to retrieve a garbage can on Interstate 90 was one of three people killed on Inland Northwest roads on Monday.

Another pedestrian was killed near the University City mall in the Spokane Valley, and a Deer Park man died after rolling his truck in Stevens County.

Washington State troopers said Rodney Burtis of Rathdrum, Idaho, was hit on I-90 in the Valley just after 4 p.m.

Troopers said Burtis was walking across the eastbound lanes when a 1994 Toyota Tercel driven by Stephen Nelson, 41, of Spokane hit him.

Burtis, 43, had just grabbed a garbage can that had blown out of his trailer and was headed back to his car at the time of the accident, troopers said.

He sustained massive head injuries and died about three hours later at Sacred Heart Medical Center. Troopers would not say if Nelson was cited.

A 68-year-old woman trying to cross Sprague Avenue near U-City died after being hit about 5:45 p.m., troopers said.

Diane Ayers of Greenacres was walking north across Sprague when a 1995 Hyundai two-door driven by Erin Duncan, 18, of Spokane collided with her.

Ayers was taken to Sacred Heart, where she died of internal injuries about 10 p.m. Troopers refused to say if Duncan was cited.

In Stevens County, Daniel Busley was killed when he lost control of his 1984 Ford Ranger pickup and crashed.

The wreck occurred about 10:15 p.m. on Scotts Valley Road, about 10 miles from Deer Park.

Troopers said Busley, 49, was driving south on Scotts Valley when he failed to make a curve. His truck went off the road, hit a tree and rolled onto its top.

Busley died at the scene of head and neck injuries.

, DataTimes