In brief: Sheriff’s sergeant involved in wreck

A Bonner County sheriff’s sergeant was involved in a crash that sent two people to the hospital Friday morning.

Sgt. Phyllis J. Jay, 62, was driving an unmarked 2006 Chevy Tahoe west on Sagle Road at 9:18 a.m., according to the Idaho State Police. She pulled out at a stop sign at U.S. Highway 95 and hit a northbound motorcycle driven by Rodney F. Howard, 67, of Priest River. Howard lost control of the motorcycle and both he and his passenger, 66-year-old Catherine J. Howard, were thrown into the road.

Both Howards were taken to Kootenai Health to be treated for their injuries. A spokeswoman there said Catherine Howard was in critical condition and Rodney Howard was in fair condition Friday afternoon. Both were wearing helmets at the time of the crash. Jay was not injured.

Jay is assigned to the Civil Division as a process server, according to a Bonner County Sheriff’s Office news release. She has been placed on administrative leave while the crash is under investigation by the Idaho State Police.

Staff report

Man who died in fire near Eloika Lake ID’d

The man who died in a house fire near Eloika Lake last Saturday has been identified as Michael L. Randolph, 68.

Randolph died of smoke inhalation, according to the Spokane County medical examiner.

Multiple 911 calls were received shortly after 9 p.m. May 23 reporting explosions and fire at the home at 42327 N. Sundance Road. The home was fully involved when firefighters arrived and had collapsed.

Randolph’s wife was not home at the time, said Spokane County Fire District 4 spokeswoman Megan Hill. “She left to go to the store and came back to find the house on fire,” Hill said.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Hill said the investigation was interrupted by another fatal fire in the district that turned out to be a triple homicide.

Nina Culver

STA has no explicit policy on yellow lights

The Spokane Transit Authority has no explicit policy on how its drivers should handle yellow lights, according to records requested by The Spokesman-Review.

Spokane police said a bus driver entered the intersection on a yellow light at Crestline Street and Euclid Avenue around 1:30 p.m. May 22 and collided with 52-year-old motorcyclist Thomas Robert Dale Samples, who was running a red light. The Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled his death a suicide, and police still are investigating the crash. Samples was wearing a helmet when he collided with the bus.

STA provided its intersection policies Friday, which do not explicitly address yellow lights. However, there are multiple requests for drivers to anticipate light changes by observing walk signs and not to “charge” intersections. Drivers also should “be ready to stop or yield to other vehicles or pedestrians,” according to STA policies.

Kip Hill