Dead Woman’s Pickup Found

A 1981 Toyota pickup that belonged to a woman recently found dead in a Spokane Valley park turned up over the weekend in a parking lot near 32nd Avenue and Pines Road.

The abandoned truck was taken by investigators as evidence in the investigation of 29-year-old Christine Lozeau’s death. Her body was found on the river bank at the west end of Sullivan Park on March 9.

The body showed no obvious signs of traumatic injury, and an autopsy performed March 11 was inconclusive. Investigators are still waiting for toxicology test results, but are investigating Lozeau’s death as a murder.

Detectives are asking anyone who might have seen Lozeau prior to her death, or who saw the pickup truck being driven either before or after March 9 to call Crime Check at 456-2233.

Man pulled from burning truck

A sheriff’s deputy pulled a man from a burning pickup truck early Saturday after finding him slumped over the steering wheel.

Deputy Jim Gladden plucked Robert Allen from the cab while flames spewed from underneath the 1993 Chevy truck, which was parked along Custer Road between Second and Third avenues.

Allen refused treatment from firefighters who arrived at the scene minutes later. Gladden was not injured.

Witnesses said the engine had been racing for about 30 minutes, apparently sparking the fire, said Eric Olson, Valley Fire deputy fire marshal.

Allen’s foot was on the gas pedal when Gladden found him about 1:15 a.m. It was not known why Allen had been slumped over the wheel.

Flames and smoke were pouring from under the hood and smoke filled the cab when firefighters arrived. Damage was estimated at $10,000. , DataTimes