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

Valley woman hurt in head-on crash

From Staff Reports The Spokesman-Review

A Spokane Valley woman suffered chest and abdominal injuries and a broken leg and arm Tuesday evening in a head-on crash on Bigelow Gulch Road.

The victim, Kay A. Yoke, 49, was listed in serious condition late Tuesday at Deaconess Medical Center.

Spokane resident Joseph H. Perry, 29, was arrested on suspicion of vehicular assault. Sheriff’s Sgt. Earl Howerton said drugs or alcohol may have contributed to the crash.

Howerton said Perry attempted to pass a car that had stopped to make a left turn into a private driveway in the 7500 block about 5:50 p.m. Perry’s eastbound Ford F-150 pickup struck Yoke’s westbound Chevrolet Celebrity when Perry steered into the westbound lane.

Perry suffered only minor injuries, but both vehicles were totaled, Howerton said. He said the vehicles probably were going at least as fast as the 45 mph speed limit.

The crash occurred in a straight section of the road.

“There shouldn’t have been a visibility problem,” Howerton said. “It’s just a matter of him basically making a lane change and not checking ahead.”

The road was closed all evening while the crash was investigated. Howerton said the road was expected to reopen at midnight.