One injured when van pursued by deputies crashes into car, STA bus

A driver being pursued by Spokane County Sheriff’s deputies along Trent Avenue in Spokane Valley crashed Thursday after deputies punctured the van’s tires, according to a Spokane County Sheriff’s Office news release.

Before the crash, a deputy had responded to the report of a man slumped over in a white van in the area of East Queen Avenue and North Tiara Court. The deputy saw drug paraphernalia inside the van, according to the release.

When the man, Trevor Jefferson, 25, awoke, he started the van and took off, the release said. Jefferson drove “recklessly” as he eluded capture, running stop signs, passing vehicles and reaching high speeds, the release said.

“As Jefferson’s utter disregard for the public’s safety or himself rapidly escalated, Deputy (Jessica) Baken terminated the pursuit near Trent and Long Road,” the release said. Other deputies ahead of Jefferson laid spike strips out ahead. The spikes pierced three of the van’s tires, according to the release.

Deputies restarted the chase. With flat tires, Jefferson lost control at Trent and Park Road, spun out and collided with the side of an STA bus and a stopped Ford Mustang, the release said.

A passenger in the Mustang, Edie Poole, 35, was taken to MultiCare Valley Hospital for injuries and released Thursday, the release said. The Mustang was totaled, Washington State Patrol reported.

The van and bus were damaged, but all four people in the STA bus were uninjured, WSP reported.

Jefferson received medical attention at the scene and he was transported to the hospital.

Deputies said the van was reported stolen in Spokane last month. Deputies also got a search warrant for a blood sample.

Jefferson was booked into Spokane County Jail for attempting to elude a police vehicle, possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of stolen property, a DUI and driving with a suspended license.