In brief: Spokane soldier injured by explosion in Iraq
A soldier from Spokane – a 2002 Rogers High School graduate – was seriously injured Wednesday in Tal Afar, Iraq.
Army Staff Sgt. Christopher R. Carver, 23, suffered a severe head injury after his armored vehicle drove over an improvised explosive device, said his father, Bob Carver, of Spokane.
The roadside bomb detonated, causing the vehicle to roll several times. Three other soldiers were injured, said Bob Carver, who was contacted by military officials early on Thursday.
Christopher Carver was flown to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, according to his wife, Laura Carver, who is five months pregnant. He remains unconscious and is in critical condition.
Christopher Carver’s wife and parents were scheduled to fly to Germany this weekend.
Born in Anchorage, Christopher Carver signed up to join the Army on Sept. 10, 2001 – a day before the terrorist attacks and a school year away from graduation.
He had already spent a year in Afghanistan when he was deployed to Iraq in August 2006, his father said.
Carver is a member of the 25th Infantry Division out of Schofield Barracks in Honolulu, Hawaii. He also belongs to the 3-4 Air Cavalry.
“I want people to know what my son has done for his country,” said Bob Carver, a custodian for Spokane Public Schools. “He was proud to serve his country.”
– Virginia de Leon
Woman hospitalized after fire escape fall
A Spokane woman was injured Friday after falling from a third-floor fire escape, Spokane police said.
The 42-year-old woman was unconscious when officers were called at 3:40 p.m. to the Daniels Apartments, 525 W. Sinto Ave.
She had been drinking and was locked out of a third-floor apartment, according to police. When the occupants wouldn’t let her back in, she went out onto the fire escape and tried to get in through an open window. The woman lost her balance and fell 30 feet to the ground, police said.
She suffered a broken wrist and other non-life threatening injuries and was transported to Deaconess Medical Center.
– Staff reports
Post Falls
Crime prevention talk will benefit shelter
Proceeds from a crime prevention seminar planned for Thursday will benefit the Post Falls Women’s Shelter.
Women and men are invited to attend the National Rifle Association’s Refuse To Be a Victim seminar at Center Target Sports, 3295 E. Mullan Ave., Post Falls. The presentation, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m, focuses on strategies to avoid dangerous situations.
Safety tips related to the home, vehicles, phone, technology and travel will also be discussed. Firearms instruction is not part of the seminar.
Pre-registration is required, and the seminar costs $15 per person. To register, contact Peggy Santos at (208) 773-2331 or e-mail peggy@centertargetsports.com.
– Taryn Brodwater
ASTORIA, Ore.
Search for missing fisherman called off
The search for a fisherman missing after his boat capsized at the mouth of the Columbia River on Saturday has been called off, the U.S. Coast Guard said.
It said two other people were rescued.
The missing man’s name was not released.
The Coast Guard said the 16-foot sport fishing boat capsized about 100 yards west of the Astoria-Megler Bridge shortly before 8 a.m. None of the three wore life jackets, the Coast Guard said.
Separately, the Coast Guard said, eight people were taken off a charter fishing vessel that sank in 57 feet of water about 7.5 miles off the coast near Tillamook.
The Coast Guard said the Bullfrog was about an hour out of Garibaldi when it began taking on water about 6:30 a.m. A distress call brought another charter vessel to the rescue.
Capt. Patrick Gerrity of the Coast Guard said all wore life jackets, and “they didn’t even get wet” in the rescue.
– Associated Press