In brief: Car trailer pins men at Broadway truck stop
Two men were critically injured Thursday night when a semi-truck car trailer they were working on rolled off its jacks and pinned them at the Broadway Truck Stop in Spokane Valley.
A Spokane Valley Fire Department captain described the injuries as “pretty critical.”
“The guys weren’t responsive,” said Kevin Uphus, captain of Fire Station 2. “When (the trailer) started rolling it just came off the jacks and came straight down on them.”
Uphus said the men were trapped for several minutes. The owner of the truck used jacks to try to get the trailer off the men. Firefighters finished the rescue, Uphus said.
The names of the two men were not released Thursday.
LOLO PASS, Idaho
Stretch of Highway 12 to remain closed
A stretch of U.S. Highway 12 over Lolo Pass will remain closed into the weekend as crews clean up avalanche debris.
The Idaho Transportation Department has nine pieces of equipment working to clear the highway.
Six avalanches have struck the area since Jan. 31. “It’s the first time in a dozen years that avalanches have closed the highway,” said Mel Coulter, an ITD spokesman.
The ridgeline above the highway will be assessed today for avalanche danger. An avalanche expert will walk the ridgeline and dig snow pits to study the snow’s structure. The area will also be examined from the air.
One of the early avalanches pushed a semi truck into the Lochsa River. The truck’s cab and its load of lumber have been retrieved, though the trailer remains in the water, Coulter said.
Highway 12 is the only direct route between Lewiston and Missoula. During the winter, daily traffic counts average about 270 vehicles in Lowell, Idaho.
For more information, go to 511.idaho.gov or call 511 from within Idaho. Callers from other states can access information at (888) 432-7623.
spokane
Blaze destroys apartment after report of violence
A fire destroyed a Spokane apartment and left another uninhabitable Thursday.
Firefighters hadn’t immediately determined what caused the blaze at the house at 1228 W. Chelan Ave.
Spokane police responded to a domestic violence report at the apartment where the blaze started about 4:50 p.m., an hour and a half before the fire broke out, Officer Teresa Fuller said. “We don’t even know for sure if the two are related, but obviously it raises some eyebrows,” she said.
The house is divided into two apartments. The top apartment was destroyed and the bottom one had minor smoke and water damage, Fuller said.
No injuries were reported. A woman called to say she was trapped on the roof, but she made it down before fire crews arrived, Fuller said.
Reward sought for tips on South Hill bank robber
Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for information leading to the arrest of a man who has robbed two Spokane banks in the past two weeks.
A man about 5-foot-6 and wearing a mask and gloves robbed the Washington Trust Bank at 611 E. 31st Ave. about 11:45 a.m. Jan. 30. He robbed the Washington Mutual Bank at 2903 S. Grand Blvd. around noon Tuesday, according to Crime Stoppers.
In both robberies, the man left in cars that were found a few blocks away and had been stolen the night before. Witnesses believe the robber had a gun in his pocket, according to Crime Stoppers.
Anyone with information is asked to (800) 222-TIPS. Tipsters do not have to give their names to collect the cash reward but should provide the operator with code names or numbers.