Boy Critically Hurt When Crash Tears Car Open Man With Suspended Driver’S License Arrested, Jailed After Two Collisions

A 2-year-old boy was reported in critical condition with head injuries Sunday after he and his car seat were thrown from a car that was torn open in an accident Saturday night in Spokane.

The child’s mother and three other children in the car suffered injuries, but none was life-threatening.

Police said their car was struck by a car that was speeding, did not have its headlights on and had hit another vehicle minutes earlier.

Police said the driver of that car, Ryan R. Quaale, 23, of 4206 E. Nancy, had a suspended driver’s license and had been drinking.

Quaale suffered minor injuries and was taken to jail.

Police said Quaale hit a car at Division and Magnesium Road shortly before 11:30 p.m. Saturday. Two men were injured in that hit-and-run accident.

The second accident occurred three minutes later at Nebraska and Crestline.

The force of the collision was so great that the 2-year-old was thrown from the car into the street, where he landed face-down. He still was in his car seat when police found him.

The child, whose identity was not released by police, suffered head injuries and was taken to a local hospital.

Quaale’s license had been suspended until the year 2003.

Police are investigating both accidents.