Spokane7
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July 8, 2011 in City
Autopsies show men drowned
Three Bhutanese refugees found dead in the Spokane River drowned in their submerged vehicle, officials said today.
Krishna Dhital, 21; Dilli Ram Bhattarai, 28; both of Tukwila, and Bhattarai’s cousin, 17-year-old Krishna Dhakal, of Spokane were missing for nearly a month when police found their bodies in an Acura pulled from the river on Wednesday.
Police found a beer can in the car and say alcohol and speed may have been a factor in the crash.
But the men were in the river long enough that determining whether they were intoxicated when they died is difficult. The Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office is not pursuing toxicology reports.
Dhital, Bhattarai and Dhakal were last seen at a gathering June 11 at 1608 E. Mission Ave. They left about 10:30 p.m. in Dhital’s Acura. Police believe the Acura left an embankment near the apartment complex before crashing into rocks and hitting the water.
News of their disappearance worried the Bhutanese community of 300 in Spokane. Their deaths have devastated their families and friends.
Man dies following early Saturday accident 
MrNatural on July 08 at 4:37 p.m.
This is a terrible-terrible tragedy for this community and to impugn the reputations of these men on one empty can is so tactless.
These local law enforcement press releases dearly need an overhaul…why they feel the need to infer cause before proof is truly disdainful and what I’d expect from toxic tabloid junk.
My sincere condolences to the families
lowtechmaster on July 08 at 4:51 p.m.
MrNatural is correct. I offer my condolences, also.
Pigrobin on July 08 at 4:53 p.m.
I have to agree, this is not particularly good journalism.
misjustice on July 08 at 5:52 p.m.
A beer can, one, a single can, only one, one… *sigh*
Is that even important at this point? These kids are gone, their families and friends are grieving; and there is no way to accurately pinpoint BA levels, due to the poor souls being in the water for so long.
So what, pray tell, is the point of “reporting” on the ONE, single, solitary beer can found in the vehicle?????????
My heart goes out to the families and friends of these young folks.
maria on July 08 at 6:38 p.m.
I cannot imagine the trauma these folks endured just to get to this country….and now this.
Americans take so much for granted.
I hope Spokane embraces them in this time of sorrow.
oneanddone on July 08 at 6:38 p.m.
You don’t just drive into the river because it sounds like a good idea. It’s very likely, finding ONE SINGLE SOLITARY beer can indicates they had been drinking and all the other evidence washed away in the torrent. The good news in all this is that they didn’t take out an innocent family or child. Could have easily happened.