Crash hospitalizes two

A three-car crash involving a speeding minivan left two people critically injured Friday and closed a northeast Spokane road for several hours.

A 29-year-old man, who was not identified, was speeding eastbound on Magnesium Road in a 1998 Plymouth Voyager, when he attempted to negotiate a slight curve, crossed the centerline, and hit a westbound Ford pickup head-on, said Spokane sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Dave Reagan. The driver of the pickup, a 57-year-old Mead woman, and the driver of the van were transported to a hospital with critical injures, Reagan said.

The momentum of the crash also pushed the pickup into a 1992 Acura driven by a 24-year- old Mead woman. Neither she nor her 60-year-old passenger was injured, Reagan said.

Sara Leaming

Voting deadline soon

Washington residents who want to cast a ballot in the Aug. 18 primary have to be registered by Monday or they’re out of luck.

Those who aren’t registered, but want to be, must register in person at their county elections office. Online registration will not allow a new voter to be on the books in time for the primary.

In Spokane, that means a prospective voter wouldn’t be able to cast a ballot on a countywide sales tax for law enforcement. Many cities and towns and some school and fire districts also have primaries for the November election.

In most counties the elections office is in or near the county courthouse. In Spokane, it’s two blocks away at 1033 W. Gardner.

Jim Camden

Teenager pleads guilty

A teenage woman has admitted to killing her father in his Spokane home last year.

Jacqueline A. Wortham, 18, faces 22 years to life in prison after pleading guilty to first- degree murder. Her sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 16.

Daniel Wortham, 39, was living with his daughter on East Sharp Avenue when police say the girl, who was a frequent runaway, and her boyfriend, Edmund D. Washington, 19, stabbed and beat him to death March 21, 2008.

Police found his body two days later. Jacqueline Wortham and Washington were arrested the next day. Wortham entered her plea July 29.

Washington remains in Spokane County Jail on one count of first-degree murder. His trial is set for Sept. 21.

Staff reports