Second car might have played role in crash

Spokane police are looking for a black sedan that witnesses said was racing at high speed with the car that overturned Saturday at Lincoln Street and Fourth Avenue, leading to the death of one passenger.

Lt. Jim Earle, of the department’s traffic unit, said police have little to go on in the case, which has a 16-year-old driver facing charges of vehicular homicide and vehicular assault. The charges have been sent to juvenile court authorities.

A 17-year-old passenger was killed and a 15-year-old passenger was injured when the 1991 gold Acura became airborne and crashed.

The driver, who had previously had his license suspended, was also injured.

Because the two survivors are under medical care, police have not yet conducted extensive interviews with them.

Witnesses said the Acura appeared to be racing with a “black, mid-size sedan” as the two cars were coming down the steep Lincoln Street hill. Police don’t know if the black sedan also had passengers.

“We don’t have any descriptions,” Earle said. “We’re at the beginning stages of the investigation.”

The driver of the other vehicle could also face charges, he said.

Teenagers sometimes race cars illegally on Spokane streets at night. The crash occurred about 6:30 p.m. Saturday, an unusual time for the activity, Earle said.

Racing cars down the hill is also uncommon because losing control is so easy, he said.

“It’s incredible that they would even consider that,” he said. “Maybe it was just a lark … sometimes it comes down to something as simple as that.”

Investigators hope pedestrians or other drivers in the area saw something that will help with the investigation.

Earle said anyone with information about the accident should call the Traffic Hotline at (509) 625-4150.