Region in brief: WSU student found badly hurt
A Washington State University student was found unconscious and badly injured on a Whitman County road early Wednesday.
Kristen E. Grindley, 23, of Seattle, was in critical condition at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center after being airlifted from Pullman Regional Hospital, according to the Whitman County Sheriff’s Office.
Emergency crews found her lying in a pool of blood at 1:40 a.m. on Pullman-Albion Road about a mile from state Highway 27. Grindley may have fallen from a vehicle or been struck while walking along the road, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Anyone with information about the incident can call (509) 397-6266.
Meghann M. Cuniff
Fleeing driver injures woman
A suspected car prowler crashed into another driver during a police chase Wednesday, injuring the woman but not her 2-year-old child, Spokane police said.
Michael L. Bridges, 24, drove off in a black Chevrolet Caprice after officers spotted him walking near East Everett Avenue and North Stone, according to Spokane police. Officer Bob Collins pulled over and turned off his emergency lights at North Perry Street and East Rowan Avenue out of concern for public safety, police said, but Bridges continued west on Rowan and crashed into an oncoming car at North Cincinnati Street about 10 a.m., police said.
The Caprice ended up in the front yard of a nearby house.
Police arrested Bridges after a short foot chase and took him to a hospital with minor injuries. He was booked into Spokane County Jail on charges of attempting to elude police and failing to leave information at a collision.
Bridges has at least two convictions for second-degree burglary and one for first-degree possession of stolen property. He was sentenced to 22 months in prison in January 2007, according to news archives.
Meghann M. Cuniff
Car hits pole, causing outage
Police said a fleeing driver crashed a stolen vehicle early Wednesday, knocking out power in the vicinity of Indiana Avenue and Monroe Street.
Spokane police arrested the driver after a chase in which the car hit a power pole. The outage affected a small area around the intersection and was restored later in the day, according to Avista Utilities.
Aaron J. Harding, 40, was booked into Spokane County Jail on suspicion of vehicle theft and eluding a police officer following the 2:30 a.m. incident. He fled on foot after the crash but was caught by officers, police said.
He had a large number of shaved keys in his possession when he was arrested, police said. Shaved keys are sometimes used to steal vehicles.
Mike Prager
Church to host free food event
Hundreds of people are expected to appear Friday afternoon at the Millwood Community Presbyterian Church, where free food will be distributed to low-income residents.
More than 530 people turned out in August for a similar event at the church parking lot at which 11,651 pounds of food were distributed.
Second Harvest Northwest, the food distribution center, will bring its truck loaded with nutritious food, including fresh produce.
No appointment or documentation is necessary, but recipients must be present and are encouraged to bring a box.
Second Harvest is looking for community support to cover the cost of monthly food distributions.
Staff report