Woman accused of vehicle assault in Trent Avenue crash in Spokane Valley

A woman faces felony charges after Washington State Patrol troopers say she tried to run from the scene of a Spokane Valley crash she’s accused of causing.

Emily Appel, 32, was booked Sunday night into the Spokane County Jail on recommended charges of vehicular assault and hit-and-run.

Troopers say Appel was headed west on Trent Avenue approaching Pines Road in Spokane Valley at about 5 p.m. when her Toyota 4Runner struck a westbound Toyota Rav4 from behind, driven by Cally Duncan, 33.

The collision pushed the Rav4 into cement curbing, causing it to roll into a field, say court records. Appel, meanwhile, also hit the cement curbing, but went airborne and landed in a field.

Court records say Appel then tried to flee from the scene but high-centered her car on nearby rail road tracks.

“The driver failed to recognize a large pile or rocks used on the railroad tracks,” troopers wrote in court records. “The driver drove over the pile of rocks with the passenger side tires instead of simply driving around.”

Once immobile, two witnesses had to help Appel out of her car “because a train was coming.” Court records say Appel told them she was running from someone who was “trying to sexually assault her.”

When troopers caught up to Appel they found an 18-pack of beer in the back, and an open can in the front passenger seat. Troopers, according to court records, said Appel smelled heavily of alcohol.

Duncan was taken to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center for treatment.

Appel was treated at a local hospital before being jailed.