Spokane7
65°
August 10, 2011 in City
Motorist hits wrong pedal, kills man in his front yard
A driver with a learner’s permit apparently confused the gas pedal with the brake and struck and killed a man as he stood on his Spokane Valley lawn Tuesday afternoon.
The accident occurred on 32nd Avenue just west of the intersection with Glenn Road.
The victim was identified as Wes Abney, 48, who lived at the corner.
Spokane Valley police Detective Dave Thornburg said that Abney was in his yard about 1:20 p.m. when the driver, Claudia Salazar, lost control of her Ford SUV, which jumped the curb. Abney was apparently carried a short distance beneath the vehicle and died at the scene.
Investigators had to wait for the medical examiner before removing Abney while neighbors looked on.
“It looks like a new, inexperienced driver hit the wrong pedal,” Thornburg said. “He was in the wrong spot at the wrong time.”
Salazar had a licensed driver with her as required and two other occupants, including a small child and at least one family member.
She does not speak fluent English so a Spanish interpreter was brought to the scene to help interview her, Thornburg said.
Neighbor Michael Phelps said he was home when the accident occurred and heard another neighbor yelling for help. He described Abney as a helpful and friendly man with a reputation for clearing snow from the sidewalk in front of homes along the block.
“It’s really sad,” Phelps said.
MLK Jr. Way opens Thursday 
drywitt99 on August 10 at 3:23 a.m.
So very sad…..for everyone involved.
opiemuyo on August 10 at 7:03 a.m.
Thoughts and prayers to all involved.
Where did it say the driver was an illegal alien? Or perhaps we assume everybody brown such as my wife, who came here legally and has recently earned her citizenship is? Not cool, Spoky.
misjustice on August 10 at 7:22 a.m.
Spookie never disappoints…
johnclarke on August 10 at 7:25 a.m.
moderator…
Diana on August 10 at 7:40 a.m.
Right on cue, Spooky.
valleyman on August 10 at 7:43 a.m.
Yet you guys love Spoky when he’s ripping on the police… Guess his true stripes show through and you’ll go after him now that he’s said something that’s not quite politically-correct …
Orphan on August 10 at 7:50 a.m.
I would like to know if the driver was an American citizen, here on a visa, just naturalized or here unlawfully. I am hoping they have insurance to help pay for the funeral expences.
Poor guy gets hurt in his front yard, that just does not seem right.
monkeyman on August 10 at 9:54 a.m.
I hear Spoky needs lawn mowing.
addyh on August 10 at 10:40 a.m.
A comment early in this thread was removed.
Addy Hatch, city editor
SpokyDaBear on August 10 at 9:22 p.m.
The guy should have been wearing a helmet while mowing his lawn in his front yard.. .. probably would have saved his life when the non-american national ran over him..
nporton on August 10 at 10:45 p.m.
Sad that people want to jump to conclusions, rather than just lamenting the tragedy for all involved. There have been at least 2 similar accidents in the past day or so involving American-born drivers, so I really don’t see why people feel the need apply their racism to this terrible incident. For the record, the driver was here legally as the spouse of a citizen, so perhaps the point is that Americans shouldn’t have the freedom to marry a foreigner?
My prayers tonight will go to Mr. Abney’s family.
SpokyDaBear on August 10 at 11:02 p.m.
So saying someone is a foreign national is racism?
I didn’t know citizenship of a country counts as a race?
Besides, if he was wearing a helmet while mowing the lawn he would still be alive… don’t you know helmets saves lives.. ????
SpokyDaBear on August 10 at 11:03 p.m.
She probably thought he was a pastor on his own property and she thought she was the SPD.
Ed Byrnes on August 10 at 11:56 p.m.
Spoky the first thing to do when you find yourself in a hole is to stop digging.
68Abney on September 21 at 1:35 p.m.
Just to clear the air he was not mawing his yard, we have already been over why he was out there, and question for spoky when a vehicle hit you in the chest how is a helmet going to save you?