Spokane7
61°
May 10, 2009 in News, City
Girl killed in Hwy. 195 motorcycle crash
A 9-year-old Chewelah girl has died after the motorcycle she was riding on hit a car south of Spokane.
Nehalah May was riding on a 2003 Harley-Davidson driven by Robin Richard Scholz, 51, of Colfax. They were riding north on Highway 195 at Meadowlane Road about 1:45 p.m. today when they collided with a 1986 Oldsmobile driven by Esther Mae Westlund, 89, of Spokane, according to the Washington State Patrol.
According to police, Westlund was trying to turn onto E. Meadowlane from the southbound lane of the highway when the northbound motorcycle broadsided her.
May was taken to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, where she died. Scholz was transported to Deaconess Medical Center, where a nursing supervisor said he was in stable condition this evening. Both were wearing helmets, police said.
Westlund was not injured. She was cited with second-degree negligent driving for failing to yield the right of way, police said.
Recent stories in News
Sex trafficking suspects released as probe continues May 29, 2012 2- Center’s activities provide glimpse into network of advocacy groups May 28, 2012 4
- 6-year-old qualifies for national spelling bee May 28, 2012
- $60 million car museum opens near Tacoma May 28, 2012 1
- Lewis-McChord soldier killed in Afghanistan May 28, 2012 7
westside on May 10 at 8:36 p.m.
Story write up is poor. Motorcycle hits car…actually car hit motorcycle. The poor old woman was at fault. Sounds like the motorcycle driver was at fault since he hit the car!
lewis8457 on May 10 at 10:05 p.m.
How is it possible a 89 year old person still has a drivers license? What a waste of a young life.
mebythesea on May 11 at 6:01 a.m.
Why does and 89 year old woman have a driver’s license????!
Everyday I see older people driving like they don’t know where they are going! I don’t understand why in the world after the age of 65 each and every driver doesn’t have to have a driver’s test EVERY YEAR! I know it’s expensive, but this little girl would be alive today if this 89 year old woman wasn’t driving! This is senseless! Get these older drivers off the road!!!
kimberper on May 23 at 9:02 a.m.
For any who don’t know, the second degree negligent driving Westlund was charged with will result in a $550 ticket, period. The driver told the state trooper that she thought she could make it. Laws pertaining to older drivers need to change. They need much more thorough testing. They need to be tested every year with behind the wheel, vision and reaction time. how many of us has seen it for ourselves? An old person pulling out into traffic without even looking over their shoulder, the old person who hops the curb pulling out of a driveway? We see it every day. Old people are second only to teen drivers as being unsafe and causing wrecks. I feel that it’s up to the states to keep unsafe drivers off the road, but it’s also the responsibility of the families of old drivers. Most families look the other way when their aging family member continues to drive into their 70’s and 80’s. Wake up people! Sweet Nehalah didn’t have a chance against this 89 year old woman.