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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Dead battery leaves woman locked in car

Usually when the Spokane Valley Fire Department is called to unlock a car with a person inside, it’s to rescue a young child.

Sunday, a woman called for help from the parking lot of Victory Faith Fellowship on Argonne Road. Her car battery had died and her electronic door unlock switch wouldn’t work, said Assistant Fire Marshal Bill Clifford. The woman had to be coached on how to manually unlock the door from the inside so she could get out, he said.

Crews responded to the 8300 block of East Trent Avenue the morning of Oct. 11 when a pickup truck was hit by a train. The train was going less than 20 mph, Clifford said. Firefighters had to cut the 68-year-old man out of his truck, but he received only minor injuries.

Witnesses told firefighters that the man was driving south on Vista Road and stopped on the north side of the train tracks. He reportedly drove onto the tracks and then stopped in front of the train, Clifford said.

Other events the week of Oct. 9-16.

Oct. 13: An investigator assisted Newman Lake Fire and Rescue with a vehicle fire in the 26500 block of East Moffat Road.

By the numbers: Crews responded to 265 calls, including 226 for emergency medical services. Responses included 11 car accidents, an arcing refrigerator, a malfunctioning baseboard heater and a Central Valley High School student locked out of her car.