In brief: Woman killed by train on railroad tracks in Spokane

An unidentified woman walking on BNSF railroad tracks in Spokane was killed Thursday after she was struck by a train.

BNSF spokesman Gus Melonas said the woman was trespassing west of the Sullivan Street overpass at about 7 a.m. when she was hit and killed.

Melonas said the crew blew its whistle and initiated emergency braking but was not able to stop in time. He said he did not have further information about the woman.

The train was hauling general merchandise on a trip between Dilworth, Minnesota, and Pasco.

Melonas said about 60 trains travel on those double tracks daily.

The line was closed for several hours.

Associated Press

Family of mother opens memorial fund

The family of Veronica Rutledge has set up a memorial fund to pay for her funeral expenses and provide support for her husband and son.

Rutledge was killed Tuesday at a Wal-Mart in Hayden after her 2-year-old son accidentally shot her with a gun he pulled out of her purse.

The gun was in a zippered pocket specifically designed to hold a concealed weapon.

The family has set a  fundraising goal of $5,000 on the site GiveForward.com, and has also created a  memorial page on Facebook for family and friends to share memories.

Rutledge’s father-in-law, Terry Rutledge, said the family will create a memorial fund at U.S. Bank on Tuesday. Once that fund is set up, contributions may be made at any U.S. Bank branch.

Rachel Alexander

Alcohol suspected in I-90 injury crash

A suspected drunken driver injured a Spokane woman in the early hours of the new year after he collided with her car head-on while driving the wrong way on Interstate 90.

Nicholas Haseltine, 23, of Westfield, Massachusetts, struck 67-year-old Rose Zaring near the Lincoln Street exit in downtown Spokane while he was driving west in the eastbound lanes, according to a news release from the Washington State Patrol. The crash occurred around 1:30 a.m. Thursday.

Zaring was injured and transported to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center. The hospital did not have a report on her condition Thursday afternoon because she was in surgery, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Haseltine was injured but not transported to a hospital, the release said. He was arrested on vehicular assault charges and jailed.

Rachel Alexander

Two dead, 1 injured after party shooting

RENTON, WASH. – Two men are dead and a third was injured after gunfire erupted at the end of a New Year’s Eve party in Renton.

King County sheriff’s Sgt. DB Gates said it is believed four people started shooting guns when the party ended at about 3:30 a.m. Thursday. The injured man was treated at a hospital and released.

Gates said 20 to 25 people were at the home when the gunfire began.

An investigation into the incident continues.

Associated Press