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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Four EWU football players hurt in crash

Compiled from staff reports The Spokesman-Review

Four players on the Eastern Washington University football team were in a one-car rollover in Ritzville on Sunday night, sending the driver and one passenger to Sacred Heart Medical Center, the Washington State Patrol said.

Ryan J. Donckers, a 2002 Renton High School graduate, was listed in satisfactory condition Monday night and Anthony M. McCarty of Shelton was listed in stable condition.

Sheldon E. Weddle, a 2002 Ephrata High graduate, and Kyle C. Long of Olympia were treated and released from the Ritzville hospital, the WSP said. All four men are 21.

According to the report, Donckers was driving a 1999 Toyota 4Runner northbound on state Highway 395 at 10:55 p.m. when the vehicle left the roadway.

It flipped several times when Donckers tried to overcorrect. The vehicle came to a stop on its wheels, blocking the right lane.

The report said all four were wearing seat belts and alcohol was not involved.

Donckers was airlifted to Sacred Heart and McCarty was taken to Sacred Heart by ambulance.

Donckers is the Eagles punter and Weddle is the kicker. McCarty was a backup tight end last season while Long was a backup receiver.

WSP jails pair in alleged road-rage incident

Washington State Patrol troopers arrested two men accused of being involved in a road-rage incident Sunday morning on U.S. Highway 195 and Hatch Road.

Lukus J. Swift was charged with second-degree assault after he intentionally rammed another vehicle while traveling on the highway, the WSP said.

The troopers also arrested Lance W. Driver and charged him with DUI, reckless driving and reckless endangerment after he and Swift became locked in a confrontation that started when both vehicles left the Spangle area in south Spokane County.

Troopers learned about the incident after receiving a 911 call about 10:35 a.m.

The two drivers had been speeding, slamming on their brakes and passing several vehicles as they traveled north from Spangle, the WSP said. No one was injured.

On Saturday, in north Spokane County, troopers stopped 73 vehicles in about four hours during special patrols on U.S. Highway 395, the WSP said.

Troopers arrested 10 aggressive drivers, one driver for DUI and possession of marijuana, one driver for negligent driving and wrote tickets for motorists not wearing seat belts.

The WSP has stepped up its patrols in that area due to an increase in collisions in the area. Motorists can expect to see additional patrols during the summer travel season, the WSP said.

Body of man discovered off boat launch

A passer-by discovered the body of a man Sunday morning off a boat launch road near Belvedere in Okanogan County, said Cmdr. Mike Kessler of the Colville Tribal Police Department.

The cause of death has not been determined, although the body, an unidentified Native American male in his mid-20s, appeared to have significant head trauma, according to a police news release.

An autopsy is scheduled for today.

Female Geiger escapee recaptured

Jaymie C. Fowler, one of eight inmates who escaped from Geiger Corrections Center in the last 10 months, was picked up at 11:30 p.m. Saturday and has been booked at the Spokane County Jail.

According to a jail spokesperson, Fowler, 21, was charged with second-degree escape, possession of a controlled substance, resisting arrest and failing to comply with a bench warrant involving domestic violence assaults. Bond has been set at $30,050.

Fowler and another woman escaped over the correctional facility fence on June 8.

Corrections officers caught the other woman minutes after she scaled the chain-link fence topped with barbed wire. She and Fowler were the first two females to escape since the facility created the women’s campus last March.

Valley library to celebrate with ice cream

Celebrating 50 years in the Valley, the Spokane County Library District will serve free ice cream Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Valley Library parking lot.

The event will feature Inspiration, a barbershop quartet, and library officials will make an announcement regarding the Valley branch.

Parking will be available in the lot behind the library, 12004 E. Main Ave.

The Valley library was the first branch of the Spokane County Library District. Before that, Spokane residents relied on SCLD bookmobiles and the Spokane Public library.