In brief: Hit-and-run suspect pleads innocent

A former Gonzaga Law School student pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a hit-and-run crash that police said could have killed a 2-year-old girl had she not been wearing a helmet.

Timmy Ngoc Nguyen, 22, is out of jail awaiting trial for charges of vehicular assault and hit-and-run. Nguyen is accused of driving his 2003 Honda Element drunk and striking a family riding bicycles on East Maringo Drive.

He was taken to a hospital to get a blood sample and was unresponsive, but staff told deputies they believed “Nguyen had been faking his unresponsiveness,” according to court documents.

“Security had to …

A former Gonzaga Law School student pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a hit-and-run crash that police said could have killed a 2-year-old girl had she not been wearing a helmet.

Timmy Ngoc Nguyen, 22, is out of jail awaiting trial for charges of vehicular assault and hit-and-run. Nguyen is accused of driving his 2003 Honda Element drunk and striking a family riding bicycles on East Maringo Drive.

He was taken to a hospital to get a blood sample and was unresponsive, but staff told deputies they believed “Nguyen had been faking his unresponsiveness,” according to court documents.

“Security had to hold him down to re-secure his restraints,” court documents said. “Nguyen lunged toward security with his head and tried to bite them. Nguyen was very belligerent, uncooperative, and hostile toward everyone at the hospital.”

Witnesses said Nguyen turned westbound onto Maringo from North Argonne Road but entered the eastbound lanes and hit a bicycle trailer carrying Danika Packard.

A witness followed Nguyen back to the Pasadena apartment complex at East Wellesley Avenue and North Pasadena Lane, where Nguyen was arrested. Nguyen was at a party there before he left in his Honda and struck the family, police said.

Garbage hauler to hire new drivers

SEATTLE – Facing growing piles of garbage from a week-old truck drivers’ strike and the looming threat of fines, Waste Management has decided to begin hiring permanent replacement drivers, a spokeswoman said Tuesday.

The company also announced plans to expand its waste collection efforts today.

Recycling and yard waste drivers represented by the Teamsters Union walked out July 25, and Waste Management’s Teamsters garbage truck drivers have honored their picket lines. The strike has affected about 217,000 customers in King and Snohomish counties, including large areas of Seattle. On Tuesday, the strikers extended their picketing to a Waste Management facility in Burlington, in Skagit County.

Three Navy ships arrive for Seafair

SEATTLE – Three Navy ships arrived in Seattle on Tuesday for the Seafair celebration.

The amphibious transport dock ship New Orleans, the guided missile cruiser Bunker Hill and guided missile destroyer Halsey will dock on the waterfront with three Canadian Navy ships and a Coast Guard vessel. They’ll be available for public tours through the weekend.

The Navy’s Blue Angels jets also are arriving in Seattle. They’ll practice Thursday and Friday and perform Saturday and Sunday over the hydroplane race course on Lake Washington.

During the practices and air show, the Interstate 90 floating bridge will be closed to traffic.