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

In brief: Freezing rain brings crashes across county

Freezing rain made travel treacherous Thursday evening, with numerous slide-offs, crashes and rollovers.

The Washington State Patrol responded to about 25 crashes in Spokane County between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m., said Trooper Randy Elkins.

Elkins said crashes were reported throughout the county, but that the West Plains was hit particularly hard. Several occurred on Interstate 90 in western Spokane County. Many also were on U.S. Highway 195.

Elkins said he was not aware of any serious injuries in Thursday evening’s crashes.

In one incident, a trailer with hazardous material tipped over, Elkins said. The material was contained in the truck and officials were working Thursday night to assess the contents.

The National Weather Service issued a freezing rain advisory for the Spokane and Coeur d’Alene areas, the Palouse region and the Columbia Basin west and southwest of Spokane.

The freezing rain advisory was effective 4 p.m. Thursday and was set to expire at 4 a.m. today. As much as a tenth of an inch of ice could accumulate. Spokane should see temperatures rise above freezing by 9 or 10 this morning.

Staff report

Public’s help sought finding Cheney girl

The FBI is asking for the public’s help in locating a missing girl from Cheney.

Jacquelynne Rose Doucette left her home to search for a missing cat and was reported missing by her family at 7:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving, said FBI special agent Frank Harrill.

She was seen at Cheney Lanes about 11 a.m. Nov. 28 and was captured on security video, Harrill said.

The FBI became involved in the case this week and is assisting the Cheney Police Department in the investigation.

Jacquelynne is white, 4-foot-8 and 98 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes, the FBI said in a news release. She was last seen wearing a pink jacket with a hood and a white fur collar, blue jeans and pink tennis shoes with purple polka dots.

Anyone with information that could help locate Doucette is asked to call Cheney police at (509) 535-9233 or the FBI at (206) 622-0460.

Law enforcement believes Doucette could be “in a mental state in which she could be easily manipulated” because she is without her medication, the FBI said.

Jonathan Brunt

Driver loses control, killed on Highway 395

A Stevens County man was killed Thursday in a head-on crash with a tanker truck about 8 miles south of Chewelah, Washington.

Stan A. Long, 77, of Valley, Washington, was driving south on U.S. Highway 395 in his Nissan Pathfinder when he lost control and collided with the tanker, which was northbound.

The tanker was driven by Ronald R. Shaffer, 63, of Liberty Lake, who was not injured.

Washington State Patrol spokesman Trooper Randy Elkins said the tanker was carrying diesel and did not leak.

Staff report