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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
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Teenager injured in collision with Spokane Valley police officer

Get well signs for Ryan Holyk have appeared at the intersection of Sprague Avenue and Vista Road in Spokane Valley where the 15-year-old was hit by a Spokane Valley police car on May 23, 2014. (Jonathan Brunt)
By Nina Culver and Jonathan Brunt The Spokesman-Review
A Spokane Valley police officer on his way to a call around 10:30 p.m. Friday hit a teenage bicyclist at Sprague Avenue and Vista Road. The teenage boy was seriously injured in the accident, according to Spokane Police Department spokeswoman Monique Cotton. The SPD is heading the investigation into the collision because of the severity of the teen’s injuries. The officer was heading west on Sprague. Witnesses said the officer tried to avoid the teen, but clipped the bike and sent him spinning. The teenager has not been identified by police, but signs placed at the scene of the crash and Facebook posts identify him as 15-year-old Ryan Holyk, a former West Valley High School student. Tim Viall had just arrived at Charlie P’s, a restaurant and bar at Sprague and Vista, when he heard a screech and thud from the collision. He said he heard what sounded like an accelerating motor, so he backed his truck out of its parking space to get a look at the car driving away. Viall saw Holyk lying in the east crosswalk across Sprague and said he parked his truck facing the wrong way on one-way Sprague to illuminate the boy. He rushed to the Holyk’s side as the officer pulled up and blocked traffic. “He was in grave shape,” Viall said. A friend of the boy was riding near Holyk but wasn’t injured, Viall said. Charlie Price, the owner of Charlie P’s, said he has been in contact with Holyk’s family and heard late Saturday afternoon at Holyk is “still fighting.” A sign for Holyk has been placed at the intersection for people to write well wishes on. Holyk was listed in critical condition at Sacred Heart Medical Center Saturday evening. The name of the officer involved has not been released. Spokane Valley Police Department spokesman Deputy Craig Chamberlin said the officer was on his way to assist another officer in serving a arrest warrant. Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich said Saturday that he couldn’t give details about an ongoing investigation but plans to release the name of the officer involved early next week.