Motorcyclist who died in Spokane collision identified

A motorcyclist who died in a collision with a minivan in north Spokane last month has been identified as Paul Ostrander, 57.

The driver, David A. Sugai, wasn’t held responsible for Ostrander’s death but was cited for allegedly driving under the influence, police said.

At about 11 p.m. July 25, Sugai’s van was in the left northbound lane of Nevada Street near Broad Avenue. He had just stopped to turn left onto Broad when the motorcyclist rear-ended him.

Spokane police Officer Teresa Fuller said Sugai didn’t cause the crash but was under the influence of marijuana and driving with a suspended license.

Police reported that multiple witnesses provided medical aid at the scene, but the motorcyclist was pronounced dead that night. The Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office released his identity.

Ostrander was featured in a Spokesman-Review story about homelessness in December 2005. At the time, he said he had struggled with drug addiction and was thankful to stay at Spokane’s Union Gospel Mission.

Attempts to contact relatives of Ostrander were unsuccessful.