Head-on crash injures three

Three people were treated at Bonner General Hospital in Sandpoint for injuries suffered in a head-on crash about 4 p.m. Thursday on U.S. Highway 95 just north of the city.

A hospital spokeswoman said all three were in good condition and expected to be released before midnight.

According to the Idaho State Patrol, Anthony J. Messer, 45, of Lake Stevens, Wash., veered across the center line with his pickup and struck 34-year-old Michael M. Poulin, of Sagle, Idaho. Poulin was heading south in his Daihatsu SUV with a passenger, Diane Norway, 39.

KIMBERLEY, B.C.

Site of mine deaths lacked oxygen

An enclosed area where four people died inside a shut-down mine here was oxygen deprived, officials said Thursday.

The owner of the Sullivan mine, Teck Cominco, said environmental consultant Doug Erickson had been conducting monthly water samples in the same way for over 10 years. On Monday, he went to do that job but didn’t return home.

When Teck employee Bob Newcombe went looking for him Wednesday, he died, too, as did paramedics Kim Weitzel and Shawn Currier when they attempted a rescue.

“It’s kind of ironic that the mine has been closed for four and a half years,” said Jim Ogilvie, mayor of this tourist and skiing mecca in the mountains of southeastern British Columbia. “At one point we had more than 2,500 people employed there and we never had an accident of this magnitude.”

The exact sequence of events of the tragedy remained unclear Thursday.

There was speculation that the four victims were overcome by hydrogen sulfide or carbon monoxide. And it was unclear whether the second person to succumb went into the pumping station after calling 911, or whether he waited for the paramedics and the three went into the station.

But there seemed to be general agreement Thursday that there was a case of oxygen deprivation in the enclosed area.

“The most I can say is that we have determined there was an oxygen deficiency in the enclosed space where the people succumbed,” said Ogilvie. “The three died trying to help a fellow citizen and that makes it even more tragic.”

Mines Minister Bill Bennett also said that oxygen deprivation was the only thing investigators had to go on so far.

Spokane valley

Hounds to compete at Basset Blast

Dog lovers take note – more than 100 basset hounds from around the West are expected at the eighth annual Basset Blast in Spokane Valley on Saturday.

Basset owners can enter their dogs in 11 contests, from the longest ears to the best waddle. There also will be raffles and other events.

The hound hoedown starts at 11 a.m. in Sullivan Park just north of the Spokane River. Visit www.wabr.net for more information. Registration is $15 at the event. Proceeds benefit Washington Basset Rescue.

– Compiled from staff

and wire reports