In brief: Four teens injured in Hillyard accident

Four teenagers were injured early Tuesday morning when the car they were riding in crashed into a concrete barrier in Hillyard.

The four were driving east about 12:45 a.m. on Wellesley Avenue just east of Market Street at a speed witnesses estimated as high as 80 mph.

Two of the teenagers were seriously injured and taken to a hospital. The driver and another passenger were less injured, said Spokane Police Officer Glenn Bartlett.

“One girl was just two days past her 18th birthday,” said Bartlett, who added all of the passengers were 18 or 19 years old.

No one was arrested, but police say they believe alcohol was a factor in the wreck.

All of the vehicle occupants were wearing seat belts.

“We would have had multiple fatalities if they hadn’t,” said Bartlett.

– Amy Cannata

Engine trouble causes emergency landing

A United Airlines 757 made an emergency landing in Spokane after the captain reported a possible problem with one of the engines.

Airline spokeswoman Megan McCarthy said the twin-engine plane, bound from Chicago to Seattle, was carrying 180 passengers and six crew members when it landed about 4:15 p.m. Tuesday.

She said the plane landed safely and nobody was hurt. Mechanics planned to inspect the engine.

The spokeswoman said United brought in another plane to carry the passengers to Seattle.

– Associated Press

Post Falls

Violent sexual predator employed in Post Falls

The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department is notifying the community of a violent sexual predator who has registered in the area.

Steven Gregory Smith, 46, works at 6602 Seltice Way in Post Falls and lives at 1601 W. Boone Ave. in Spokane, according to the Sheriff’s Department.

He was convicted of sexual abuse of a child under 16 in 1993 in Spokane.

Idaho law requires law enforcement to notify the media when a violent sexual predator registers in the state.

– Taryn Brodwater

Electric City, Wash.

Boater’s body found after four-day search

A missing boater’s body was found over the weekend after an extensive search by family, law enforcement and volunteers.

Jeri Fredin hadn’t been seen since Aug. 12, three days after he left the Grand Coulee Yacht Club on his 22-foot Catalina sailboat.

The Electric City, Wash., man was expected to return home on Aug. 13. When he didn’t, Fredin’s family found the sailboat abandoned near the Camel Cliffs area.

After a four-day search, Fredin’s body was found in the lake. He was not wearing a life jacket.

– Amy Cannata