Officials check to see if spill of diesel escaped into soil

State officials are investigating whether thousands of gallons of diesel entered the ground from a spill at a fuel storage area in northeast Spokane.

The spill occurred over the weekend on land leased to Cenex and owned by Avista Utilities, said Hugh Imhof, Avista spokesman.

The fuel was pumped into a tank that was already full, and the excess diesel flowed into a containment area, Imhof said. About 7,000 gallons have been recovered from the containment area, but a line inside the containment area indicates that there might have been as much as another 30,000 gallons in the containment area, Imhof said.

Imhof said Avista is cooperating with the state Department of Ecology to determine if there are any cracks in the containment area that would have allowed the fuel to escape.

“Right now it appears there is some diesel unaccounted for,” Imhof said. “If anything got into the ground at all we’ll do everything we can to alleviate the situation.”

Bobcat kitten burned in fire dies

Pullman

A bobcat kitten that has been struggling for life at the Washington State University veterinary hospital has died of complications from burns.

Amber, who was 12 weeks old, died despite extensive efforts by WSU veterinarians, staff and volunteers, the school said Tuesday.

The kitten had been burned on more than 30 percent of her body, and had undergone two surgical procedures to relieve scar tissue contractions.

The bobcat suffered her injuries when some timber slash piles near Omak were burned over the Memorial Day weekend. Veterinarians believe the kitten was part of a litter that was born in the logging debris.

Amber was doing well until Monday, when the animal began to scratch and gnaw at the scars, a common occurrence with such injuries. A staff member discovered that the bobcat had accidentally lacerated her femoral artery and was near death.

“When a veterinarian works with wild animals that suffer extensive injuries, death is often the outcome, unfortunately,” said Nickol Finch, the veterinarian who heads up WSU’s Exotic Animal Service.

“Still, we are frustrated and saddened by Amber’s death,” Finch said.

Bullet hits parked car on South Hill

Spokane police are asking for information about a South Hill drive-by shooting.

A bullet was fired into a parked car in the 3300 block of South Bernard early Monday morning, said Spokane Police spokesman Dick Cottam in a press release.

No one was hit by the bullet, Cottam said. Neighbors told police they heard a gunshot about 2 a.m. or 3 a.m.

Anyone with information can call 242-8477.

Reward offered in gas heist, assault

A $1,000 reward is being offered for information that leads investigators to the man who ran over a gas station employee with his car as he was stealing fuel.

The driver was attempting to leave Maid O’Clover Chevron station, 3812 E. Highland Road, without paying for $20 of gas about 10:45 a.m. July 27, said Spokane County Sheriff’s spokesman Cpl. Dave Reagan in a press release. As the man backed out, he struck an employee who was trying to stop him.

The station is near the intersection of U.S. Highway 2 and state Highway 206.

The employee suffered a broken leg. The thief did not stop and left northbound on Highway 2.

The driver was described as being in his 20s, 5-foot-10, 200 pounds and black with a short haircut and short facial hair on his chin. He was wearing a white T-shirt and blue denim shorts.

He was driving a green Thunderbird from the early 1990s. It had a temporary license in the rear window.

A witness told investigators that a woman was riding in the car. She was described as in her early 20s and white with blond hair.

Anyone with information on the assault can call Secret Witness at 327-5111. Callers do not have to give their name to be eligible for the cash reward.

Secret Witness is a nonprofit organization not affiliated with law enforcement.

Police to practice motorcade escort

Spokane motorcycle police will be practicing escorting motorcades today. The exercises will start at about 10:30 a.m. and end midafternoon.

Motorists who encounter the motorcade police must give them the right of way, yielding to them at traffic lights and pulling to the right to allow them to pass.

Officers will have their emergency lights on.