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

In brief: Three horses killed in collision on SR127

Three horses were killed in a traffic collision that sent one person to the hospital and blocked traffic on a state route in rural Whitman County late Sunday, the Washington State Patrol said.

Trooper Jeff Sevigney said five horses were in the roadway near Dusty, Washington, when a car collided with the group, injuring two and killing three just after 11 p.m.

A gate had been left open and the horses walked out, Sevigney said. The crash closed the southbound lane of state Route 127 for several hours Monday morning, according to the WSP.

The driver was taken to Pullman Regional Hospital.

Kip Hill

Suspect in hit-run death turns self in

A woman suspected of killing Robert Royer in a hit-and-run crash last Tuesday morning while Royer was riding his bicycle turned herself in 15 hours after the incident, according to court documents.

The woman did not remain on the scene when the crash occurred because she was scared, court documents said.

Detectives have impounded the car they believe struck Royer, a red 1996 Saturn SL. Court documents show they found two Busch tall cans in the car, and the windshield had been smashed.

Charges have not yet been filed and the suspect is not in custody.

Wilson Criscione

Former Idaho first lady Jacque Batt dies at 88

BOISE – Former Idaho first lady Jacque Batt, a Spokane native, died Sunday of natural causes at the age of 88.

She and Phil Batt, her husband of 66 years, met at the University of Idaho and were married in 1948; they had three children, William, Rebecca and Leslie Ann.

A lover of animals, dancer, riding instructor and pilot, Jacque Batt was a private person whose most public stance as first lady was taking a lead role in the “Race for the Cure” against breast cancer. The Batts also were frequently seen with their pets, including a “small mutt” named Sniffer who frequently visited the governor’s office during Batt’s term as governor in the 1990s.

She is survived by her husband, Phil, her children and extended family and relatives.

In his book, “The Compleat Phil Batt: A Kaleidoscope,” former Gov. Batt, an accomplished musician, referred to her as “my dear wife” and shared a musical composition he’d written in her honor, the Jacque Elaine Waltz. She was the daughter of Gordon and Mary Fallis of Spokane.

Betsy Russell