Woman in crash in critical condition

A driver who allegedly fled from Spokane police and crashed in Hillyard was in critical condition Monday while her 2-year-old passenger was expected to be released from a hospital.

Police say 24-year-old Janean R. Swan fractured both legs and suffered facial, head and internal injuries.

Police say officers pulled over Swan about 9:20 p.m. Sunday after spotting smoke billowing from her station wagon.

During the stop, officers learned Swan had a felony warrant for malicious mischief, Spokane police Cpl. Tom Lee said. She sped away as they approached to make the arrest, Lee said.

Officers gave up a chase when the station wagon, its hood raised, reached speeds estimated at more than 80 mph. Swan crashed into a truck about 9:40 p.m.

Investigators on Monday were still trying to determine if Swan had the boy on her lap, as initial reports indicated, said Spokane police Officer Jennifer DeRuwe.

Police have not disclosed the relationship between Swan and the boy. Birth records show she gave birth to a son who would now be 2.

– Amy Cannata

Pontoon landing closes main runway

Flights at Spokane International Airport were delayed 20 minutes Monday after an amphibious plane landed on the main runway without extending its landing gear.

No one was injured, and neither the airplane nor runway was damaged, airport spokesman Todd Woodard said.

“It was just a case where the pilot forgot to put down his gear and he landed on his pontoons,” Woodard said.

Operations crews jacked up the seaplane high enough for the pilot to extend the landing gear, holding up airport traffic from 1:17 to 1:37 p.m., he said. Four taxiing planes and two waiting to land were delayed.

The single-engine turboprop was able to fly back to its starting point in Sandpoint without repairs, Woodard said.

– Nick Eaton

Dalla named EWU’s dean at Riverpoint

Eastern Washington University is creating a position to oversee the expansion of the school’s presence at the Riverpoint campus.

Ron Dalla, Eastern’s interim provost and vice president for academic affairs, will “lead the charge” as EWU Riverpoint’s interim executive dean starting July 1, spokesman Dave Meany said. John Mason has already been selected to take over as university provost.

Eastern plans to sell its downtown Spokane building and move most of the academic programs housed there to Riverpoint. School officials hope to build at Riverpoint, which it shares with Washington State University, Meany said. The university will have about 2,500 Eastern students there when the downtown branch closes, he said.

Dalla has been at Eastern more than 30 years, Meany said.

– Nick Eaton