Pedestrian Killed Trying To Cross Street

A woman trying to cross one of Spokane’s busiest streets was hit by a car and killed during the Thursday morning commute, police said.

The death came the same day police traffic investigators announced a development in another car-pedestrian accident.

It was dark and raining Thursday when the 59-year-old woman stepped off the curb into West Francis Avenue about 6:30 a.m., police said.

The victim, who lived a few blocks away, apparently was trying to reach a bus stop on the south side of Francis at the “A” Street intersection.

“That was her routine,” police Cpl. Tom Sahlberg said.

One westbound driver told police he barely missed the woman, who was wearing dark clothes and carrying a purse and umbrella.

But another man driving westbound slammed into the woman. The 56-year-old motorist hit the brakes on his 1986 Plymouth Reliant but didn’t have time to stop, Sahlberg said.

The woman died at the scene. Police are withholding her name pending notification of next of kin.

The driver was not injured. Police did not release his name.

Neither speed nor alcohol appeared to be a factor, police said. The driver who hit the woman voluntarily gave some of his blood for tests.

He probably won’t be charged.

While there is no traffic light or crosswalk at Francis and “A,” the woman was crossing at the corner “where a pedestrian should cross,” Sahlberg said.

She was the second pedestrian to die this year after having been hit by a car on Spokane streets.

A 47-year-old homeless man died New Year’s Day after being taken off life support at a local hospital. He had been hit Dec. 31 when he stepped into traffic on North Division.

Also on Thursday, police announced they are looking for a compact sport utility vehicle suspected in the Dec. 29 collision that injured Wendy O’Brien of Spokane.

O’Brien, 32, suffered numerous injuries when she was hit while trying to walk across North Monroe near The Hub tavern between Fairview and Cleveland avenues.

She has been making constant improvement at a local hospital and was listed in satisfactory condition Thursday.

Traffic investigators used a paint chip left in her clothing to identify the vehicle - probably a 1995 or 1996 Suzuki Sidekick or a 1996 Geo Tracker.

Police believe the car is white or at least has a white front end.

Anyone with information in the O’Brien case is asked to call Crime Check at 456-2233.