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

In brief: Elk teenager dies after motorcycle crash

From Staff Reports

A teenager from Elk in northern Spokane County died after crashing his motorcycle on Interstate 90 Thursday evening.

Ryan J. Tachell, 18, was traveling east approaching a construction zone near Spokane Street, where traffic was backed up, the Idaho State Police reported in a news release. He lost control of his 2007 Yamaha motorcycle about 4:45 p.m. and crashed into the median barrier. Tachell was transported to Kootenai Health hospital, where he died Friday morning.

Tachell was a senior at Riverside High School, where he also participated in a science program called Riverside Technical Academy. Counselors were at the school Friday to assist grieving students and also will be at the school from 8 a.m. to noon today.

A candlelight vigil for Tachell is planned in the school’s football stadium at 8 p.m. Sunday.

Any witnesses to the crash are asked to contact the Idaho State Police at (208) 209-8730.

Suspect allegedly takes officer’s Taser

Spokane police arrested two men – including one who allegedly tried to shock a police officer with a Taser – after they crashed a car Friday in Browne’s Addition.

An officer attempted to pull over a car around 12:30 p.m., but the driver sped away. The car crashed into another vehicle in the 1800 block of West First Avenue and both men inside fled, according to a police news release.

One man, Brandon K. Hutchinson, 30, was located after he allegedly forced his way into a residence in the 2300 block of West First. A responding officer got in a struggle with Hutchinson, who is also accused of taking the officer’s Taser off his belt and unsuccessfully attempting to shock the officer with it, the news release said.

Police searched the area and found firearms and methamphetamine believed to have belonged to the two men. The second man, Christopher L. Olson, 34, was located and arrested without incident about an hour later.

The driver of the vehicle the men crashed into was not injured.

Hutchinson was booked into the Spokane County Jail on charges of first-degree assault, first-degree burglary and unlawful possession of a firearm. Olson was booked on a charge of attempting to elude police.

Both men have long criminal records.

Whooping cough on rise; vaccine advised

Whooping cough is on the rise in Washington, and Spokane Regional Health District officials are urging people, especially pregnant women, to get vaccinated against the disease.

So far there have been 319 cases of whooping cough, also known as pertussis, in the state this year, the health district said in a news release. Spokane County has had 12 cases.

Infants are very susceptible to the disease, which begins with a cough and runny nose. After one to two weeks, the cough worsens and children may have rapid coughing spells that end with a “whooping” sound, the health district said. Symptoms are often less severe in adults, but the cough can last for many weeks.

The health district offers clinics where free vaccinations are provided to youngsters age 2 to 18.

The next two clinics will be held:

• 3:30 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Farwell Elementary, 13005 N. Crestline St.

• 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. May 7, Deer Park Elementary, 1500 E. D St.