Officer ‘Lucky’ Car Crash Injuries Not Worse She’Ll Likely Be Sidelined A Week After Collision Wrecks Cruiser

Sat., Jan. 16, 1999

By Adam Lynn adaml@spokesman.com

A Spokane police officer whose patrol car was hit by a suspected drunken driver was lucky to escape with only minor injuries, authorities said Friday.

Officer Tami Scott, 27, was treated and released from a local hospital with bruises and sore muscles following the Thursday night wreck, police Sgt. Larry Evans said.

“There’s not much left of it,” Evans said Friday as he surveyed Scott’s mangled car. “She’s really lucky.”

The left front of the blue and white car was smashed in and the hood was buckled.

Scott is expected to miss a week or so of work, Evans said. She joined the force in April 1995.

Police said she was driving north on Post Street on routine patrol about 6:45 p.m. when a pickup driven by Donald S. New ran a stop sign at York Avenue and slammed into her car.

The force of the impact sent Scott’s car careening onto a lawn, narrowly missing two trees.

The pickup flipped onto its side and spun around. New, who was thrown partially out of the truck, was listed in satisfactory condition at a local hospital Friday.

Police are awaiting the results of blood tests before deciding what charges the 32-year-old Spokane resident will face.

Officers at the accident scene said there were beer cans in New’s truck and that his breath smelled of alcohol.

New has no criminal history in Spokane County, according to court records.

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