In brief: Man dragged 500 feet by thief’s getaway car
A man was dragged behind a car for more than 500 feet early Sunday after he tried to catch a thief.
The victim was talking to the clerk inside a Shell convenience store in Spokane Valley when a man ran inside, snatched a case of beer and bolted back out the door. The victim chased the thief to his getaway car, where three other males were waiting to go, said sheriff’s Sgt. Dave Reagan.
The victim grabbed the thief’s clothing and somehow ended up halfway inside the 1970s Chevrolet Malibu. The driver started driving, and the passengers held on to the thief as the car drove about 25 mph down the road, Reagan said.
The victim suffered cuts and abrasions on many parts of his body. The store clerk drove him to a Spokane Valley hospital, according to a sheriff’s office news release. “This could have been fatal,” Reagan said.
The thief was described as a bearded white male in his late 20s, 5-foot-6 and about 140 pounds.
– Nick Eaton
Rosalia
WSP investigating fatal U.S. 195 crash
Washington State Patrol investigators still don’t know why a motorcyclist crossed the centerline on Highway 195 into an oncoming semitruck Monday morning.
The motorcycle driver, Leslie K. Crawford, 56, of Bothell, died at the scene.
“He was an experienced rider. It was a straight part of the road,” said Washington State Patrol Trooper Mark Baker.
Speed, drugs and alcohol are not considered factors in the crash, said Baker, although Crawford may have been suffering from a health problem.
“His riding partner said that he hadn’t been feeling good that morning,” Baker explained.
An autopsy to see if a medical emergency contributed to the crash will have to be conducted.
About 11:15 a.m., Crawford was driving northbound on Highway 195 about 32 miles south of Spokane near Rosalia, Baker said. A semitruck with a load of grain was in the southbound lane. When the motorcycle crossed the centerline, the truck driver attempted to get out of the way by driving into the northbound lane, Baker said. The motorcycle collided with the passenger side of the truck.
– Staff reports
Region
Weather to warm up in time for weekend
Rain and mild temperatures are in the forecast until Thursday night, when things should clear up just in time for the weekend.
The temperature in Spokane hit a high of 59 degrees on Tuesday, and 57 in Coeur d’Alene. That’s a far cry from this past weekend, when area temperatures hit the mid-90s.
The National Weather Service forecasts rain and highs of 63 in Spokane and 58 in Coeur d’Alene today, dropping to the mid-40s tonight.
Thursday should warm up slightly, with highs of 68 in Spokane and 63 in Coeur d’Alene. Rain should continue through the day, but the skies should clear up in the evening.
Friday should see warmer weather, with highs of 72 in Spokane and 70 in Coeur d’Alene. Saturday should be slightly warmer, but rain is forecast for Saturday night.
– Nick Eaton