Woman who died after being hit by city vehicle is identified
The woman who died Tuesday after a city wastewater management truck ran over her as she was sleeping on the side of the road has been identified as 53-year-old Stephanie Meier, who was also known as Stephanie Bender.
Meier died of blunt impact injuries, including a lacerated liver, according to the Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office.
She was hit at the intersection of South Lewis Street and South Geiger Road on the West Plains around 7 a.m. according to Spokane police.
Police said it appears the truck was pulling into the area and ran over a pile of debris, blankets, clothing and cardboard near the side of the road. The woman was sleeping in the debris and was hit by the vehicle.
She was sleeping in the driveway of the entrance to a construction site on the shoulder of the main road, police said.
Spokane Mayor David Condon said in a statement, “We were very saddened to learn that the woman involved in an accident with a City vehicle today has passed away. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the woman’s family and friends during this time.”
The driver of the city vehicle has been placed on paid administrative leave, following city policy.
City crews were at that location working to fix a localized flooding issue, the city said in a news release. Police are continuing to investigate.