Immigrant family mourns son killed in crash

A Spokane family is grieving the loss of a 17-year-old Ferris High School student who died Saturday night after the car he was riding in crashed in downtown Spokane.

Sergey Kirichenko, a junior, was killed in the single-vehicle crash near Fourth Avenue and Lincoln Street.

“He was just a good kid. He was just an awesome guy,” said Irene Beloshotsky, Kirichenko’s aunt.

Spokane police officer Devin Presta told The Spokesman-Review on Saturday night that speed and alcohol were factors in the accident.

The 16-year-old driver suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was arrested on suspicion of vehicular homicide.

On Sunday, Spokane Police spokesman Cpl. Tom Lee released the names of the two passengers. Pavol Semenikhian, 15, also suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Kirichenko died when the sedan he was riding in flipped after running over two parking meters, hitting a power pole and smashing into a gold Acura.

When firefighters arrived, they found the three teenagers, all from Spokane, outside the upside-down car, police said.

Beloshotsky said Kirichenko’s family immigrated to the United States from Ukraine when the boy was 14 and is devastated over his death.

He was the only son of Tatyana and Sergey Kirichenko.

Her nephew looked out for younger kids, Beloshotsky said, and was a dedicated student who liked school and playing basketball with friends.

The family spent Sunday receiving calls and visits from people offering support and condolences.

Police are continuing to investigate the accident.