Three killed in wrong-way crash at U.S. 2 and I-90

Three people were killed early today in a collision that occurred when a wrong-way vehicle collided with another vehicle on the eastbound on-ramp of U.S. Highway 2 onto Interstate 90. The ramp was closed for at least three hours following the 2:11 a.m. collision involving two vehicles, the Washington State Patrol said. Dead at the scene were Sterling N. Kruger, 22, of Davenport; James Roscoe Bolton, 61, of Spokane Valley; and Trina Louise Erickson, 47, of Spokane Valley, troopers said. Kruger was driving to the west in the eastbound lanes of I-90 in a 1996 Honda Accord when he entered the U.S. 2 on-ramp going the wrong way, troopers said. He collided with a 1998 Dodge Stratus, which was being driven by Bolton. Erickson was a passenger with Bolton. The Bolton vehicle was traveling correctly in the right-hand eastbound lane of the two-lane on-ramp. Troopers said it was not known if alcohol or drugs were involved. The investigation is continuing. Bolton and Erickson were wearing seat belts; Kruger was not, troopers said. Bolton was custodian at Evergreen Middle School where the principal described him as proud of his work in an e-mail to parents. Counselors and support staff from Central Valley School District were at Evergreen through the day to help children cope with the loss, said the principal, John Parker. It is the second multiple fatality accident along I-90 in the Spokane to Coeur d’Alene area in less than three days. Two people were killed and five others injured in a four-vehicle crash in Post Falls on Tuesday evening.