Woman Dies, 4 Hurt In Crash Near Ritzville

An Oregon woman died and four family members were injured Tuesday when their van blew a tire and spun out of control on state Highway 395 south of Ritzville.

Mary Conant, 66, of Joseph, Ore., died at the scene of head injuries and a broken neck, the Washington State Patrol said.

She was a passenger in a 1973 van driven by Ricky Conant, 36. The vehicle was southbound near Paha Road at 9 a.m. when the rear left tire blew, troopers said.

The weight of the van broke the rear axle, sending the vehicle spinning across the highway, the WSP said.

The van slammed into an embankment and rolled once, landing upright in the middle of the road, troopers said.

No other vehicles were involved in the accident.

Ricky Conant was being treated for head and chest wounds late Monday at Ritzville Hospital.

Passenger Earl Conant, 68, was listed in serious condition with similar injuries at Deaconess Medical Center. Matthew Conant, 9, and Michael Conant, 15, were treated at Deaconess for minor injuries.

, DataTimes