Spokane Valley Fire Department responds to influx of car accidents

The Spokane Valley Fire Department responded to several serious car crashes the week of March 16 to 22, transporting 15 people to the hospital with serious or life-threatening injuries.

The 30 crashes reported were much more than normal, said Assistant Fire Marshal Bill Clifford.

“I’m not sure why we had so many crashes this week and so many serious injuries,” he said. “I hope that’s not any indication of what’s coming with nicer weather.”

Three people were taken to the hospital after a head-on collision in the 6300 block of East Eighth Avenue on March 16. Another head-on crash between a pickup truck and a dump truck towing a trailer shut down Trent Avenue near Barker Road for hours on March 19.

“The guy in the pickup had metal wrapped around him and had to be cut out,” said Clifford. The driver was taken to Sacred Heart Medical Center by MedStar.

The dump truck rolled and the driver was heavily banged up even though he was wearing his seat belt, Clifford said.

Other calls from March 16 to 22:

March 16: Combustible items were stored too close to a diesel generator being tested at American Behavioral Health, 12715 E. Mission Ave. The items started to smolder, but were put out by staff members with fire extinguishers. A man digging up his yard in the 2800 block of South Park Lane accidentally dug up a natural gas line.

March 21: Dry grass along the railroad tracks in the 5100 block of North Canal Road caught on fire. Crews assisted Spokane County Fire District 8 with a small brush fire in the 4300 block of South Henry Road.

By the numbers: Crews responded to 287 calls, including 223 emergency medical services calls. Other responses included two illegal trash fires, two car fires and three children accidentally locked inside vehicles.