Former news anchor crashes SUV into creek

A former Spokane TV news woman was rescued from her sport utility vehicle by Spokane Sheriff’s Dive Team members after she drove into Latah Creek on Sunday afternoon.
Debra Gilbert Wilde, who was uninjured in the accident, was later arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Wilde, 60, was driving south on Hangman Valley Road at about 1:15 when her 2002 Jeep Cherokee left the road, went over a guardrail, down a 20-foot embankment and into the swollen creek.
Alerted by a passer-by, Deputy Greg Lance found the Jeep about 25 …

A former Spokane TV news woman was rescued from her sport utility vehicle by Spokane Sheriff’s Dive Team members after she drove into Latah Creek on Sunday afternoon.

Debra Gilbert Wilde, who was uninjured in the accident, was later arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Wilde, 60, was driving south on Hangman Valley Road at about 1:15 when her 2002 Jeep Cherokee left the road, went over a guardrail, down a 20-foot embankment and into the swollen creek.

Alerted by a passer-by, Deputy Greg Lance found the Jeep about 25 feet from shore and drifting downstream with water up to the vehicle’s windows.

After firefighters tied the vehicle off to prevent it from drifting farther, Wilde was taken to shore and then by ambulance to a downtown hospital. Though uninjured, she was hypothermic, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Wilde worked as a TV newswoman in Spokane for 27 years, holding positions with KHQ and KXLY.