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Officials name 10 worst intersections in region

The intersection at Division Street and Wellesley Avenue has been ranked the city of Spokane's most dangerous, according to Police Department statistics. (Kathryn Stevens / The Spokesman-Review)
By Jody Lawrence-Turner jodyl@spokesman.com(509) 459-5593
The intersection at Division Street and Wellesley Avenue has been ranked the city of Spokane's most dangerous, according to Police Department statistics. (Kathryn Stevens / The Spokesman-Review)

If you want to avoid a car crash, go with the odds and steer clear of these Spokane-area intersections.

The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office analyzed crashes over the last four months and identified the 10 worst intersections in Spokane County, nine of which are in the greater Spokane Valley, said spokesman Sgt. Dave Reagan.

Spokane police also released its list of the 10 worst intersections for all of 2005, which are split between downtown and the North Side.

Spokane County’s 10 worst

•Sprague and Sullivan: A majority of the 11 crashes occurred in the morning and evening rush hours. Six crashes were caused by people following too closely.

•Sprague and Argonne and Mullan roads: Six of the 10 crashes occurred when people ran red lights.

•Sprague and University: Four of the nine collisions happened when drivers went straight while in the “turn only” lane.

•Argonne and Grace and Buckeye: The Millwood intersection was the site of eight crashes. Four were caused by motorists who failed to yield.

•Mission at Argonne and Mullan roads: Four crashes were caused by drivers running red lights.

•Division and Cascade Way: The only non-Valley intersection in the top 10.

•Appleway and Dishman-Mica Road: A confusing intersection because eastbound drivers have to decide where to stop so they are not in the intersection or idle on Union Pacific Railroad tracks.

•Sullivan and Indiana: One crash was caused by a driver who backed up into another car at the intersection.

•Sullivan and Broadway: Not using a turn signal caused one of the crashes.

•Bigelow Gulch and Forker Road: Speeding in bad weather caused most crashes.

Spokane’s 10 worst

Spokane police defined the city’s 10 worst intersections by breaking down fatalities, the number of injuries and damage to vehicles. However, there were no deaths in the 2005 crashes at the nastiest intersections.

•Division and Wellesley: Ten people injured in 36 crashes and 26 cars damaged.

•Second and Maple: Twelve vehicles damaged and 10 people hurt.

•Division and Sprague: Five people injured and 17 vehicles damaged.

•Browne and Sprague: Five people hurt and 16 vehicles damaged.

•Division and Francis: Seven people injured and 14 vehicles damaged.

•Euclid and Market: Crashes at this intersection resulted in only two fewer injuries than the two worst crash sites.

•Third and Browne: Five people injured and 13 vehicles damaged.

•Greene and Mission: Four people injured and 13 vehicles damaged.

•Third and Monroe: Five people injured and 11 vehicles damaged.

•Mission and Ruby: Five people injured and 11 vehicles damaged.

“Most crashes can be attributed to driver inattention,” said Spokane police Cpl. Kevin Huddle. “If people would think about feet per second instead of miles per hour then there would be fewer crashes caused by following too closely.”