Witnesses sought in attack on woman

Spokane Police are seeking witnesses to an assault Tuesday night in which a man groped a woman as she was walking down the street.

The woman, in her early 20s, was walking on Sprague Avenue near Madison Street about 8:15 p.m. Tuesday when she heard someone walking behind her. She ignored the sound until the man ran up close behind her, police spokesman Dick Cottam said.

The man reached up under her skirt, threw the victim to the sidewalk and reached between her legs, Cottam said. She fought off the man and he jumped up and ran south across Sprague.

The woman called Spokane Police. She suffered scrapes and cuts from hitting the pavement. She had been carrying a gallon bottle of homemade cider which broke on impact.

The woman was upset and angry but not seriously injured, Cottam said. She told police that she chose her route to avoid streets that aren’t as well lighted.

The assailant was described as being in his late teens to early to mid-20s. He stood about 5-foot-7 to 5-foot-9, 140 pounds with light brown hair.

Within the past several weeks, police have received reports of two similar incidents at night. One was in the downtown area and another on the North Side, Cottam said.

Anyone with information is asked to call 242-TIPS (8477).

Woman injured in rear-end collision

A Spokane Valley woman was seriously injured in a collision Thursday morning on Interstate 90, the Washington State Patrol reported.

Gail M. Pacopac, 59, was westbound near Sprague, Wash. about 6:30 a.m. when a minivan driven by Moses Lake resident Federico Deleon struck her pickup from behind, WSP said in a press release.

Pacopac had been driving 45 mph because she was using a small spare tire, WSP said. She was taken by helicopter to Deaconess Medical Center where she was listed in serious condition Thursday evening.

Deleon, 19, was cited for driving too fast for the conditions, WSP said.

Work on I-90 to cut traffic to one lane

Work on Interstate 90 Saturday will narrow the roadway in two locations to one lane.

Eastbound I-90 will be reduced to one lane Saturday near Altamont from 7:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. to allow Washington State Department of Transportation crews to repair the pavement.

In Spokane Valley eastbound I-90 traffic will again be reduced to one lane from Broadway to Sullivan and westbound I-90 traffic will be reduced to one lane near the Pines and Argonne interchanges. Both of these restrictions will last throughout the day.

Eastbound traffic between Argonne and Sullivan continues to be reduced to one lane each night, starting at 7 p.m. and continuing until 6 a.m. And, starting Monday, traffic may be reduced to one lane during day-time hours in the same location.

The Spokane Valley work is part of the last push to expand the freeway there from two lanes in each direction to three.

Work on sewage plant to close parkway

The Aubrey L. White Parkway will be closed today near the city of Spokane’s wastewater treatment plant.

The closure from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. will completely block the roadway, so motorists should find alternate routes.

Access to Riverside State Park and the plant will be maintained via Rifle Club Road.