In brief: Traffic deaths down in first quarter
Fatal traffic accidents are down this year, according to a report from the National Safety Council.
In Washington, fatalities involving motor vehicles were down to 91 so far in 2009, from 108 in the first three months of 2008, the Washington State Patrol said.
The report comes after a deadly two weeks in Eastern Washington, including Sunday’s fatal accident in which a 56-year-old Otis Orchards woman rolled her car on Trent Avenue.
Other traffic-related deaths include a 19-year-old Spokane Valley woman killed May 13 when she was struck by a car in the median along Interstate 90 near Liberty Lake after hitting a moose with her own car; a 9-year-old girl who died May 10 in a motorcycle crash on U.S. Highway 195; and an 82-year-old Pend Oreille County man whose car struck a tree May 11 near Ione, Wash.
The major causes of traffic collisions include speed, aggressive driving, driving under the influence and drivers following other vehicles too closely, the WSP said.
Spokane
Suspect sought in hit-and-run
Spokane police are seeking the public’s help in locating a hit-and-run suspect.
Police say a motorist hit a bicyclist May 1 near Post Street and Cora Avenue about 9 p.m., then fled heading west on Cora Avenue, then north on Monroe Street. Witnesses described the vehicle as a light-colored SUV with a long, black oval-shaped roof rack storage system on the driver’s side.
Forensic evidence shows the vehicle could be a 1994 or 1995 Jeep Cherokee. The SUV should have a broken or damaged right headlight, with possible dents in the right front fender and hood, police said. Anyone with information is asked to call Cpl. Brad Hallock at (509) 835-4566.
Lewiston
ISP chase ends in fatal shooting
One man was shot to death and another was critically wounded by an Idaho State Police officer after a high-speed chase that began on the Nez Perce Reservation near Lewiston, the FBI said.
State police said the officer, whose name was not released, was taken to a hospital with minor injuries after the Monday evening shooting but was not seriously hurt.
FBI spokesman Juan Becerra in Salt Lake City identified the dead man as Randall Vernon Ellenwood, 50, and the wounded man as Ricardo Daniel Rodriguez, 37. Both are Nez Perce tribal members, he said.
Rodriguez was in critical condition in the intensive care unit at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Lewiston, hospital officials said.
Becerra said the chase started about 5:30 p.m. Monday with an attempted traffic stop for reckless driving and ended when the two men got out of the vehicle and confronted the officer at a residence near the town of Culdesac. Ellenwood died at the scene.
HILLSBORO, Ore.
‘Bored’ juror gets new court date
A Hillsboro man who left jury duty after lunch because he was “extremely bored” will be back at the courthouse Tuesday to be arraigned on a charge of contempt of court.
A police report said officers found 25-year-old Grant Faber near his home earlier this month and asked why he skipped out. He said he was bored, and “just couldn’t take it” anymore.
Washington County Judge Gayle Nachtigal issued a warrant for his arrest.
Though she wouldn’t discuss the specific case, the judge says the maximum penalty for missing jury duty is six months in jail.
Penalties, however, are generally waived if the person agrees to perform their civic duty.
Spokane
Reward offered for fugitives
Crime Stoppers of the Inland Northwest is offering a cash rewards for information that leads to the arrest of three fugitives, one wanted for drugs and two other criminals wanted for assault-related charges.
Allen Keith Murch, 38, is wanted on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance. Murch has a 23-year criminal history in Spokane County, including prior convictions for money laundering, domestic violence assault, third-degree assault and hit-and-run.
He is white, 5 feet 11 inches tall and 180 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.
His last known address is 2627 E. Desmet Ave.
Alan Bernard Penson-Way, 23, is a suspected gang member wanted on suspicion of assault in violation of a court order. He has previous convictions for violating a domestic violence order and riot.
He is black, 6 feet 1 inches tall and 240 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. His last known address is 6723 N. Atlantic St.
Joseph A. Perry, 28, is wanted on suspicion of second-degree assault. His 12-year criminal history includes convictions for theft, identity theft, unlawful possession of a firearm and second-degree escape.
Perry is white, 5 feet 10 inches tall and 150 pounds with brown hair and eyes. His last known address is 7878 N. Wilding Drive.
Anyone with information on any fugitive’s whereabouts is asked to call (800) 222-TIPS or go to www.crimestoppers inlandnorthwest.org. Tipsters do not have to leave their name to collect the reward, but should leave a code name or number.
RENTON, Wash.
SUV drives through wall at Burger King
An SUV that crashed through the wall of a fast-food restaurant left three people injured, two of them seriously.
Investigators told KOMO-TV the driver apparently lost control while trying to make a turn and sped through the parking lot before crashing into a Burger King early Tuesday.
Renton, Wash., police Cmdr. Clark Wilcox says police think alcohol and drugs were involved.
Firefighters cut the driver and a passenger from the mangled vehicle. They were taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with serious head injuries. Another passenger suffered minor injuries.
Two employees in the building when the incident occurred were not injured.
From staff and wire reports