Driver arrested after running red light, causing three-car crash in north Spokane

A man could face vehicular assault charges after police say he sped through a busy intersection against a red light, struck two cars, injured three people and then attempted to run from the crash scene before being apprehended by police officers.

At about 10:15 a.m. Thursday, emergency crews responded to Ash Street and Garland Avenue, where a green Ford Explorer, driven by an unidentified male, heading west on Garland hit a sedan and an SUV heading south on Ash.

Police said the driver of the Explorer ran a red light and, because he was driving at high speed, pushed all three vehicles several yards west of the intersection.

The driver reportedly got out of his SUV and ran from the crash, but was followed by a witness who stayed with him until police arrived. The driver was taken into custody without incident and transported to a local hospital. Police say he will likely be arrested and charged with vehicular assault.

Three people who were in the vehicles hit by the Explorer – a driver and passenger in one vehicle and a driver in a second vehicle – were all transported to a local hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening, police said.

Traffic on Ash was shut down for about an hour while Garland between Maple and Ash streets was closed for several hours as crews cleared the wreckage from the roadway.