Couple, dog killed when tree falls on their SUV

Bellingham A Bellingham couple and the family dog died when a 70-to-80-foot tree fell on and crushed their SUV as they drove southbound on Lake Whatcom Boulevard Sunday in Bellingham.

Oliver G. Larson, 69, his wife, Mary I. Scott-Larson, 45, and their dog died at the scene, Washington State Patrol troopers said.

Witnesses driving behind the SUV and on the opposite side of the road saw the tree snap, fall across Lake Whatcom Boulevard and land on the couple’s 1998 white Ford Explorer XLT about 12:15 p.m.

Firefighters cut the tree to remove it from the SUV and used the “jaws of life” to pry the roof of the Explorer open, said Trooper Jim Van Diest. The investigation is continuing, but Van Diest said strong winds may have been a factor.

Two injured in avalanche

Bend, Ore. An avalanche in the Central Oregon Cascades critically injured two Portland residents Sunday afternoon, the authorities said.

The victims were plucked from the 10,085-foot North Sister mountain by Oregon National Guard helicopters. They were taken to the Sisters Airport, and then transported to St. Charles Medical Center-Bend, said Kay Fristad, a guard spokeswoman.

The injured were identified as Nancy Miller, 40, and James Ellers, 36.

Fristad said the pair were critically injured. A hospital spokeswoman said late Sunday she could not provide any information about their condition.

Miller and Ellers were on the east side of the mountain with James Brewer, 50, and David Byrne Jr., 39, both of Portland. Brewer and Byrne were able to call 9-1-1 at about 1:20 p.m., alerting authorities that Miller and Ellers were injured, said Lt. Michael Johnston of the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office. Miller and Ellers were stabilized on the glacier by search and rescue crews.

Lilac Parade equestrian results

Here are results of this year’s equestrian category in Saturday’s night’s Lilac Parade:

Royalty – Miss Moses Lake

Specialty Horse Drawn – Triber Clydesdales

Specialty Mounted – Blue Mountain Riders

Units Representing Rodeos/Festivals/Community – Walla Walla Fair & Frontier Days

Evelyn Jones Memorial Award (best overall) – Ellensburg Rodeo Posse