In brief: Officer in deadly crash likely didn’t have emergency lights, siren on

A Spokane police officer likely did not have his patrol car’s emergency lights and siren activated when he struck and killed a pedestrian Sunday, investigators said Thursday.

Detectives probing the fatal crash that killed John A. Van Curler, 52, are asking anyone who witnessed the crash Sunday at 10:30 p.m. near North Monroe Street and West Montgomery Avenue to contact police, including the driver of a white vehicle that passed the scene right after the crash. Another vehicle turned west on Montgomery.

Witnesses should call (509) 456-2233.

Officer Gordon Ennis, an eight-year veteran, was responding to a “trouble unknown” call at the time.

“The officer was not making an emergency response, so detectives believe the patrol car would not have had its emergency lights or siren on,” said Spokane County sheriff’s Sgt. Dave Reagan, who refused to say whether detectives asked Ennis about the emergency lights or siren, or how fast he had been traveling.

Meghann Cuniff

Country Market recalls raw milk

The Country Market is recalling raw milk after a routine sampling by the Washington State Department of Agriculture found a possible E. coli contamination.

The milk was sold at The Country Market farm store at 14211 N. Thorpe Road in Medical Lake and at Fresh Abundance, 2015 N. Division St. in Spokane.

The Country Market Raw Cow Milk with expiration dates of Feb. 4 to Feb. 11 has been recalled.

Those who purchased milk with those expiration dates are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.

An E. coli infection can cause severe diarrhea, stomach cramps and bloody stool. It can also sometimes cause a serious illness in which red blood cells are destroyed and the kidneys fail. Infants, children, pregnant women, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems are most at risk.

Anyone with symptoms should contact a health care provider.

Consumers with questions can call (509) 499-3739.

Chelsea Bannach