In brief: Spokane firefighters stop mattress fire

Spokane firefighters early Saturday stopped a mattress fire from spreading beyond an upper-story bedroom of a home in the East Central neighborhood.

Crews were called to a house in the 2500 block of East Third Avenue shortly before 3:30 a.m. Saturday. All occupants escaped, according to a Spokane Fire Department news release. The mattress and box spring were destroyed and other furniture in the bedroom was damaged, the release said. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Chelan resident killed in SR-97 crash

A resident of Chelan, Washington, died in a one-car crash on state Route 97 five miles south of Pateros, Washington, in Okanogan County early Saturday.

Cole A. Ballenger, 48, was driving his 2003 Chevy pickup north when he lost control on a curve shortly after 1 a.m., the Washington State Patrol reported. His truck left the road, crossed a driveway and landed in a roadside pond. Investigators believe Ballenger was speeding at the time, the WSP said.

Ballenger died at the scene.

Suspect in deadly crash surrenders

SEATTLE – Authorities said a 19-year-old man involved in a triple-fatal crash east of Sedro-Woolley is now behind bars.

The Washington State Patrol said Alfredo Navarro surrendered to police at Harborview Medical Center late Friday. Navarro faces three counts of vehicular homicide and one count of vehicular assault, and has been booked in the Skagit County Jail.

KOMO reported troopers found alcohol in Navarro’s car and believe he was impaired in the May 23 crash on Highway 20. Three people were killed and two others suffered life-threatening injuries.

Troopers said Navarro suffered a broken arm and leg but managed to leave the hospital without police knowing. A $1 million arrest warrant was issued.

West Nile virus detected in Idaho

BOISE – The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare said mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus have been found in Payette County, the first detection of West Nile in Idaho this year.

The agency said the virus was found in mosquitoes trapped southeast of the city of Payette.

In 2006, Idaho led the nation in West Nile illnesses with almost 1,000 human infections, which contributed to 23 deaths. In 2013, 40 human cases were reported in 16 counties, with two deaths.

West Nile is usually contracted from the bite of an infected mosquito. It is not spread from person to person through casual contact.