Spokane7
50°
June 20, 2011 in City
Driver pursued by Spokane deputies dies in crash
Investigators work the scene of a fatal logging truck/automobile crash Monday on Highway 395 south of Hatch road.
(Full-size photo)(All photos)
A driver being pursued by Spokane County sheriff’s deputies crashed head-on into a semi-truck and died Monday after driving for about a mile with a flat tire caused by law enforcement spike strips.
Several motorists reported a red Ford Taurus driving erratically near Deer Park about noon. Deputies spotted the car driving southbound on U.S. Highway 395, but the driver refused to stop.
The Washington State Patrol laid out spike strips near Hatch Road, which flattened the car’s right front tire, according to the Spokane Police Department, which is investigating the incident with Washington State Patrol and the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office. But the car didn’t stop, and about a mile south of the spike strips, it crossed into oncoming traffic and crashed into a northbound semi-truck hauling logs, police said.
The driver of the Taurus, who has not been publicly identified, was pronounced dead at the scene. The truck driver was not injured.
The two deputies involved in the crash, whose names have not been released, brief investigators on the crash Monday afternoon at WSP headquarters on North Division Street, sheriff’s Sgt. Dave Reagan confirmed.
Man dies following early Saturday accident 
Shadedmuse on June 20 at 1:06 p.m.
I heard this on the scanner the first call was dui southbound on 395 from Crawford, then police said they were in persuit got the go ahead to lay spikes and one woman said i can do a pit.
misjustice on June 20 at 1:24 p.m.
I was coming back from Colbert after picking up my grandkids & many police were headed north at the Y with lights & sirens blaring.
But now we will hear how it’s all the police’s fault that the person died & the person fleeing the police will be defended. Those that hate the police won’t see how the deceased brought this upon him/herself by having a high speed chase.
BTW….so sorry for the family involved that they have lost a life.
BillSpokane on June 20 at 1:39 p.m.
This looks like another case of negligence by the County Sheriff. Simply because, who thinks its a good idea to deploy spike strips in the middle of a 2 mile construction zone where traffic is restricted to one lane side-by side.
The drive of the logging truck should definitely sue the county sheriff - I saw his truck up on the bridge - its a 400 foot drop. If he had lost control, a fully loaded logging truck could easily have gone off the bridge. The accident is right in the middle of the 2 mile construction zone - in the middle of the bridge.
Oh wait, this is backwards Spokane… officer will be up for a commendation and a promotion.
misjustice on June 20 at 1:46 p.m.
Uhhh, should the police wait until the person is in the middle of 6 lanes of traffic before trying to stop the person? Oh yes, let’s have many many people around when this happens. Geeh, maybe they should have waited until he got into lots of traffic & just let the public stop him with their cars by boxing him in.
misjustice on June 20 at 2:08 p.m.
Posted on Law Enforcement Today……..
Damned if we do, damned if we don’t:
A Police Officer will pull over an impaired driver, making the roadways a safer place before someone is harmed and later that day will have a complaint filed against him because he was forced to use defensive tactics in order to protect himself against the fight brought on by the suspect. Intense scrutiny by the media, public and agency of his actions follows, forgetting all the while that he may have saved an innocents life. But if the same Officer had not stopped the driver and someone was injured (or worse), the Officer would still undergo the same scrutiny.
Damned if we do, damned we we don’t.
A Police Officer will arrive and investigate a child abuse claim. She ascertains and takes action by recommending the child be removed. Later that day, a complaint is filed against the same Officer by the guardian(s) because their child was taken by social services based on the “lies” the Officer wrote about in her report. But if the Officer had given the guardian(s) the benefit of doubt and only sends in a recommendation of a follow-up to social services and the child is found harmed the following week, the Officer is the first to be blamed and held accountable.
Damned if we do, damned if we don’t.
Police Officers respond to an armed barricaded subject and will stay there for hours upon hours to resolve the situation peacefully, all the while risking their lives. They will use every ounce of their training to talk the subject into a surrender. Sometimes they are the target of gunfire throughout. In the end, several things may happen … The armed suspect gives him/herself up … the armed suspect remains barricaded … or perhaps even comes out but refuses to obey commands to disarm him/herself. At any of these points, the choice has already been made for the responders by the suspect. They take him peacefully, they go in and get him, or they are forced to stop him by using force. But no matter what the outcome, these Officers will always find themselves under the scrutiny and second-guessed by the media, the public and even the agencies. All the while, nothing is said about the patience and dedication they gave for the last several hours. Nor about how while the negotiators were communicating, there were several others working non-stop in the background planning their best … and safest for all … course of action. They get it done and all innocents are safe and yet they are still blamed and complaints are filed because they didn’t do enough or they did ‘too much’ and the subject … who caused the incident in the first place … winds up deceased. If the suspect shot and killed an innocent during the course of all this, it would be the Officers, not the killer, who gets the blame.
Damned if we do, damned if we don’t.
These are just three scenarios that a Police Officer will go through nearly every day. And yet, what the media and the general public does not seem to take notice of, is that we still go right back out there, day after day, risking our lives because … truth be told … ,,,,,,,,,,,,,you’d be damned if we didn’t.
~article written by Nessie~
mrd on June 20 at 2:08 p.m.
I’m sorry a truck driver had to be involved but as for the victim - if you run from the police then you have upped the anti and you will probably get what you deserve. I’m sure the officers made their best decision to keep the public as safe as possible.
John_Fever_Richmond on June 20 at 2:29 p.m.
Sounds like there could have been a MUCH SAFER place to deploy spike strips - but I wasn’t there so. Maybe oncoming traffic could have been stopped before a PIT or spikestrip were used?
I’m just askin’.
Seems like a head-on collision was not a predetermined outcome.
Was the general public at more risk of danger BEFORE or AFTER the deployment of spikestrips is basically the question here folks.
Any eyewitnesses care to comment?
BillSpokane care to elaborate?
philipgregory on June 20 at 2:41 p.m.
I thought the local cops weren’t going to continue dangerous high-speed chases?
Now, a life is wasted. A reckless idiot, true, but he did not deserve a death sentence.
Teseract on June 20 at 2:45 p.m.
From what I’ve heard elsewhere they deployed the spike strip in a different location and the driver continued to speed on with the flat tires.
The way the Spokesman article states it makes it sound like the spike strips were deployed in the construction zone on the bridge, which would be insane. Anyone who’s driven through there knows how narrow it is currently with traffic going both ways with no median or other divider, you’d have to be pretty stupid to set up a spike strip there, especially without stopping traffic going the other direction.
Loudin on June 20 at 3:04 p.m.
It would be nice for this news to play out a bit…for the details to emerge…before the comments section disintegrates into another “the cops are all saints/the cops are all sinners” argument.
That said, knee jerk reactions are always the best entertainment, right? So don’t let me stop all you LE sycophants and wannabe anarchists from going to town. Your arguments are always so original…
addyh on June 20 at 3:20 p.m.
@Teseract - I’d like to clarify that the story we have posted doesn’t say anything about where the spike strip was deployed. That was a statement made by someone else commenting on the story.
Addy Hatch, city editor
SpokalooKid on June 20 at 3:48 p.m.
You’re right Ms. Hatch, In fact the ol Review gave us what they normally give us—VIRTUALLY NO INFORMATION AT ALL—probably have to wait for the THE COLBERT GOPHER TIMES or whatever their local weekly is named to get any real information. I’m sure the Review will be busy with other topics such as what didn’t happen at the city council meeting.
WHS on June 20 at 4:15 p.m.
So, it is conceivable the spike strips were used to try and stop this from becoming a much worse situation, prior to the idiot reaching the dangerous construction zone at reckless and probably even higher speeds, thus putting the public into even more potential jeopardy. Sounds to me like the police acted in our best interest once again… Sadly the felon had to die, however thankfully no one else was hurt.
WHS
CougarGold on June 20 at 4:16 p.m.
Regarding where the spike strips were deployed, this is from KXLY’s story:
“The spike strips were deployed by State Patrol troopers and the Taurus hit them and continued for about a mile or two down the road.”
http://www.kxly.com/news/28298172/detail.html
Don’t jump to too quick of conclusions, folks.
93bird on June 20 at 4:35 p.m.
WTF!? We should be thankful that only one person is dead!? Wow, I feel safer. The dead driver was an idiot for not pulling over, but how does anyone say to themselves” Hey, I know. Let’s chase this guy 12 miles, then disable his car at high speed with spike strips at the most dangerous point on the highway. Yeah! That’s our best shot at preventing injury or death.” Good Lord. How about calling off the pursuit for a change. What’s the worst that could happen? He crashes and somebody dies? Oh wait! That already happened.
BillSpokane on June 20 at 4:35 p.m.
Even if, which hopefully it was, the spike strip was administered outside the congested construction zone, we know the vehicle did not drive for miles and miles on flat tires. Hence, in fact, the spike strips were administered within a limited distance of the construction zone. The Spokane County Sheriff should, if they are professionals, taken into account that a spiked vehicle can still travel damaged for a limited distance and that within that range there is indeed a congested construction zone.
Sure, the offender was endangering the public, that’s not up for debate. What is troubling is that the Spokane County Sheriff took it upon themselves to alter the course of events by knowingly and willfully damaging the vehicle of the offender. In so doing, the Spokane County Sheriff took responsibility for how events unfolded after their actions.
They could as easily have set up spike strips after the congested construction zone, where a damaged vehicle would have much more maneuverable territory. Instead, the officers made the conscious decision to send a damaged vehicle with an irrational driver into a congested construction zone, in so doing, bringing additional and unnecessary risks to the general public.
The repeated situations the Spokane County Sheriff Office finds itself in, signals only to the reality that the Office is a poorly run operation. The top echelon of the Office needs to be replaced by law enforcement professionals. The ranks need to be retrained and new officer requirements have to be enhanced. Better to have 1/2 the force of professionals, than the current semi-professionals that endanger the general public.
CougarGold on June 20 at 4:49 p.m.
BillSpokane - I live close to that area and know it well. Had the spike strips been set on the south side of the construction zone, the driver would REALLY be in a congested area and would possibly have created a greater threat to the safety of innocents. As it stands, it’s a very unfortunate outcome and I feel for the family of the person who died and for the truck driver who has to have this memory for the rest of his/her life. However, under the circumstances, I don’t see putting the strips on the south side of the zone as being a great alternative. Perhaps terminating the chase might have been a good idea but if the driver was already erratic, a collision may have been pretty much inevitable. I’m not ready to second-guess what the police did and would suggest reserving judgment, pending a more complete investigation and determination of what happened and what went wrong, aside from the obvious.
Ron_the_Cop on June 20 at 4:54 p.m.
Ok folks lets chill until more info becomes available. I too saw the units rolling Code 3 up Monroe and Division. I hit the diversion off of Hwy395 and saw the emergency vehicles on the bridge with the logging truck.
Time will tell if good judgment was used on the use and placement of the spike strips.
If this person was driveway erratically, what’s the possibility he/she may have crossed the median on their own at some point or after getting into traffic at Hastings rear ending someone else?
west on June 20 at 4:56 p.m.
‘SpookyHollow, Wa.’…says it all, last 30 years.
spokanecommunistparty on June 20 at 5:56 p.m.
Welcome to Liberty City!
bdr on June 20 at 6:16 p.m.
I thought they just shot em here…….! now spike strips…?
Sounds like they should just go back to shooting!
Shadedmuse on June 20 at 6:21 p.m.
Spokane Communist are you saying Roman Bellic was behind the wheel, he is such a doofus, I always have Niko beat up Roman and knock him off a tall builing and Roman says stop hitting me cousin as he falls to his death.
MrBloggy on June 20 at 6:44 p.m.
Internet Crime Scene Investigators™
are always first on the scene
so much expertise
patience, cool clinical analysis
How did crime get solved
before the internets?
tomnsahl on June 20 at 6:47 p.m.
Gee - isn’t it nice to have all the L.E. critics weigh in BEFORE the facts are known?
Pigrobin on June 20 at 7:48 p.m.
93bird, it’s a sad deal but lots worse could have happened…like a whole family wiped out by this driver instead of just the problem driver. Sometimes you have to take action, I reserve judgement until more facts are revealed.
reservedparking on June 20 at 8:38 p.m.
I’m guessing the spike strips were laid as soon as they practically could have been - getting officers in to position ahead of the chase takes a few minutes.
The facts remain that no one else was injured, property damage was limited to the suspect vehicle and the logging truck, and it all got done with a minimun of fuss.
woamike on June 20 at 8:40 p.m.
“Now, a life is wasted. A reckless idiot, true, but he did not deserve a death sentence.”
True, but don’t forget the driver wrote his own death warrant by fleeing and then continuing to flee. The police did not “kill” this driver, he did it to himself.
oink on June 20 at 9:10 p.m.
Olsen..Douville…Storment…Mehring…Thompson…Boothe…Thoma… Erikson…Oien… Uberuaga… Mehring.. Herzel…
Blood in Blood out… just another STAR..on the walk of shame for SPOKANE county-city-valley LEO:S
Another death means another vacation with pay.
what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas….
what happens in Spokane gets covered up.
Only If Nobody Knows
reservedparking on June 20 at 9:34 p.m.
WSP headquarters is NOT on N. Division - that is a satellite office. HQ for this area is on the West Plains, off exit 276.
C’mon, S-R. Don’t be in such a hurry. Take your time, get it right. I’m willing to wait if it means more accuracy.
opiemuyo on June 20 at 10:05 p.m.
Condolences to the family that lost a loved one, who made a decision to flee from the deputies. Condolences to the truck driver who had to be involved.
meadman on June 20 at 10:57 p.m.
BillSpokane — with your vast knowledge, common sense, tactical training, and infallible judgement why are not not a member of some local law enforcement agencyi?? You clearly have a tremendous insight into what was done and what should have been done….. pretty comfy in your armchair, isn’t it??
rkellie on June 20 at 10:59 p.m.
First…GRAMMA….I rarely agree with you (don’t usually post though) but in this case, I couldn’t agree more. Well put.
As far as where the spike strip was deployed…the article states that the car was driving southbound on 395 and “The Washington State Patrol laid out spike strips near Hatch Road, which flattened the car’s right front tire, according to the Spokane Police …” so not sure why or how there is any confusion on where??? so not sure how ADDYH can say that the article does NOT say where the strip was deployed. The article clearly states WHERE the spike strip was deployed and no, not on the bridge….just to clarify. It also says the car drove nearly a mile after the tires were flattened….so…..
Orange on June 21 at 6:23 a.m.
@ Loudin, good post. You’re right on.
ericdx on June 21 at 7:44 a.m.
Rkellie,
AddyH made her comment way before the update that said where the spike strip was deployed.
BillH,
I totally agree with meadman. If you know so much, carry your butt out and apply to become a police officer. Even better yet, o all knowledgeable one, go run against Sherriff Ozzie, or apply for Chief of Spokane Police. Personally, I think you are probably some fat, worthless POS who can’t even see your own toes when you stand up, so do us all a favor, and stuff a sock in it. The police have a hard job, and tools like you don’t make it any easier.
The post by Gramma about damned if they do and damned if they dont is probably one of the best, most thought out posts I have ever seen in the commment section of this paper.
I am not going to say the cops don’t make mistakes (Shonto Pete and the dead pastor come to mind) but contrary to popular belief, cops don’t show up to work saying, “I hope I get to kill someone today.” They come to work just like the rest of us, wanting to get through the day was best they can, so that they can go home to the wife, kids, hobbies, etc.
Maybe all of you Monday Morning Quarterbacking experts should walk on down and apply to become a cop. Then tell us how easy it is. Otherwise, like I said about BillH put a sock in it.
WHS on June 21 at 4:16 p.m.
Well put gramma, meadman and ericdx! Couldn’t agree more.
WHS