Briefly

Valley man dies in wrong-way van crash

A 32-year-old Spokane Valley man died early Sunday when he crashed his van into a signal pole while driving the wrong way on Dishman-Mica Road at Eighth Avenue.

Pedro Vargas, 205 S. Park, died instantly and was alone in the van at the time. The crash occurred about 1:15 a.m.

Vargas was northbound in the southbound lanes when his van jumped the curb and struck a metal pole, said Spokane County Sheriff’s Detective Ron Miya.

Police say woman shot, changes story

An 18-year-old woman, shot in the arm and abdomen Sunday morning, changed her story about where it happened while talking to Spokane Police at a local hospital.

The bullet wounds were not life-threatening and the victim was released after treatment.

The woman first told police she had been walking in Riverfront Park when a man shot her.

She later said she was shot at a residence at Third and Nelson. She said she didn’t see who shot her. She also reported that a friend had dropped her off at the hospital and left because he didn’t want to get involved.

Police heard more conflicting stories from several people they interviewed. The investigation is continuing.

Motorcyclist’s body found near highway

The body of a motorcyclist was found near state Highway 20 west of Sherman Pass on Sunday, according to a press release from the Washington State Patrol.

The rider, Dennis K. Clark, 54, had gone off the right side of the road on his 2001 BMW and tumbled down a 30-foot embankment.

The crash occurred sometime after Sept. 16, troopers said. No further details were available late Sunday.

Reward offered in hunt for suspect

Secret Witness, a civilian organization that is not affiliated with law enforcement, is offering a reward for information that helps police find and arrest a man wanted for burglary, theft and possession of a controlled substance.

Steven Lindsay Wells, 34, has 14 convictions on his record.

Wells is white, 5-foot-9 and 140 pounds with brown hair and green eyes.

Anyone with information is asked to call Secret Witness at 327-5111. Callers don’t have to use their own name to be eligible for the reward.

Plane loses prop, crash-lands; pilot OK

An experimental biplane lost its propeller and crash-landed near Black Rock Golf Course, about 15 miles south of Coeur d’Alene, on Saturday morning.

A woman who was driving a Jeep told authorities that she saw the propeller coming toward her and swerved to avoid it.

The propeller bounced off the road and hit her vehicle, damaging it, the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department said in a press release.

The pilot, Jim Higgins, 66, of Cheney, had been flying at 3,200 feet and 105 mph. After losing the propeller, he was able to land in vacant lots near the golf course, suffering only a small cut on his nose.

His passenger, Joseph Tsarbs, 48, of Spokane, was unhurt.