Car crashes after bachelor party

A groom-to-be who had been at his bachelor party ended up at a hospital early Friday after his SUV left a gravel road, sped down a steep hill and crashed into a tree.

Robert Paul Edwards, 21, was treated and released, said Spokane County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Sgt. Dave Reagan. His two passangers, a 22-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman, remained hospitalized Friday evening.

The three left Edwards’ bachelor party on the South Hill about 3:30 a.m. and were on Houston Road when Edwards’ 1996 Chevrolet Blazer left the road, Reagan said.

Speed and alcohol were factors, investigators said. Edwards may face criminal charges.

Man crushed under minivan

A 45-year-old man died Friday in Spokane when his car fell on him.

His identity was not released pending notification of next of kin.

The man was discovered about 1:10 p.m. under his minivan at North Cincinnati and Illinois, said Spokane Police spokeswoman Officer Teresa Fuller.

He was apparently working on the vehicle when it fell and crushed his neck, said Cpl. Tom Lee. Police have determined his death was accidental, Fuller said.

Man arrested after alleged assault

A Spokane man was arrested early Friday after he allegedly pointed an assault rifle at a couple in a car.

Police said Andrew C. Murinko, 20, confronted the couple near Francis and Division about 1:30 a.m. in an apparent case of mistaken identity. Murinko had earlier been asked to leave a North Side tavern after an argument, said Spokane police spokeswoman Officer Jennifer DeRuwe.

Once Murinko realized the mistake, he got back into his car and left, DeRuwe said. He was found in a grocery store buying beer and pizza.

He was arrested on two counts of second-degree assault with a deadly weapon.

Region

Smoke travels from Tripod fire

Smoke from the Tripod Complex fire blew into Eastern Washington and North Idaho on Friday evening as westerly winds shifted and started blowing out of the northwest.

Jeffrey Cote, forecaster for the National Weather Service, said the haze should continue into Sunday when winds are expected to shift and become more southerly.

Satellite images showed a long band of smoke drifting east from the fire, located in north-central Washington on national forest land.

The 41,000-acre, lightning-caused fire continued to burn out of control. Only 5 percent of the fire was contained in its western zone while it was zero percent contained in its eastern zone, according to a Web site posting Friday.

OLYMPIA

Inmate convicted on assault charges

A Thurston County Jail inmate who attacked a guard in a courthouse elevator has been convicted of assault.

Carl Vance, 62, was immediately sentenced after the verdict was returned Thursday. Because of previous convictions for child molestation and robbery he was given a life sentence as a “three strikes” offender.

Speaking in court, Vance said he was sorry for the physical and emotional trauma to the guard, Teresa Benefield, but said he did not intend to kill her.

Benefield was severely bruised in a 20-minute fight on March 31. It ended when other deputies were able to pry open the elevator doors.