Russell jury selection set to begin in Kelso
Jury selection in Frederick Russell’s vehicular homicide trial is scheduled to begin today.
Russell, 29, accused of killing three people and injuring three others near Pullman in a fiery car crash in 2001, will stand trial in the southwestern Washington city of Kelso, where Whitman County Superior Court Judge David Frazier believes it will be easier to find impartial jurors. If convicted on all three counts of vehicular homicide and three more counts of vehicular assault, Russell could be sentenced to up to 14 years in prison.
Authorities allege Russell was driving drunk when he caused the crash. Killed was Stacy Morrow, 21, of Seattle; Brandon Clements, 22, of Toppenish; and Ryan Sorensen, 21, of Westport, who were returning to Pullman after watching a movie in Moscow, Idaho. Three others were injured. Russell suffered minor injuries as well.
Later that year, Russell fled to Ireland rather than stand trial on the charges. He was spotted in 2005 in Dublin and was eventually extradited back to Eastern Washington.
Lawyers estimate the trial could last three weeks.
– Staff reports
Lookout Pass
Semitruck crash kills passenger on I-90
A semitruck carrying carpet overturned early Sunday morning killing a passenger.
Idaho State Police say excess speed played a role in the one vehicle crash, which killed Mark E. Kellar, 46, of Sarasota, Fla. Kellar died at the scene of the accident, which happened just after midnight near Lookout Pass in North Idaho, about two miles from the Montana border.
The driver, Eutiquio Torres, 50, of Sarasota, Fla., was driving westbound on Interstate 90 when he lost control at a curve causing the tractor and trailer to overturn, according to ISP.
Torres was charged with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter and taken to Shoshone County Jail, the ISP report said. Other charges and a toxicology test are pending.
The wreck shut down both westbound lanes of Interstate 90 for three hours, and an eastbound lane was also closed. An ISP representative said it was unclear in the report if Torres was an independent trucker or if he was driving a company-owned vehicle.
– Melodie Little
Spokane
Man from adult home discovered uninjured
The man whose disappearance Saturday evening sparked a police search was found early Sunday, authorities said.
Jerry T. Enos, 63, was discovered uninjured in the area of 14th Avenue and Grand Boulevard on the South Hill, according to the Spokane Police Department. Enos suffers from dementia and Parkinson’s disease and had disappeared from an adult family home at 2304 E. Fifth Avenue.
– Staff reports
Latah County
Two hunters found after night in woods
Two missing hunters are safe after being found early Sunday morning, after spending the night in the woods near Troy, Idaho.
The Latah County Sheriff’s Office reported that Duane W. Correll and Brenda K. Packard were located around 10:30 Sunday morning, when they were spotted by an Air Force helicopter. The two were driving an all-terrain vehicle in the Spring Valley Reservoir area and were reported missing Saturday night.
The call activated the Latah County Search and Rescue Council, which gathered about 60 volunteers for the search, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Members of the Sheriff’s Office, Latah County Mounted Sheriff’s Posse, Latah County Vehicle Posse, Palouse/Clearwater Search and Rescue, North Idaho Trackers, Troy EMS, Kootenai County SAR and the 36th Rescue Flight from Fairchild Air Force Base helped with the effort.
– Melodie Little