Five ejected when truck loses steering

Sun., July 27, 2008

From staff reports

Five people were ejected from a pickup truck when it rolled near Ione on Saturday morning, but none sustained life-threatening injuries.

The 1977 Chevy truck was heading east on Cedar Creek Road when the steering mechanism failed, according to a Washington State Patrol press release.

The truck, driven by 32-year-old Matthew J. Huit, of Spokane, went off the right side of the road and rolled down an embankment.

Passengers Heidi Hanson, 30, of Spokane; Christopher Lee, 30, of Spokane; and Jared Harmer, 18, of Metaline Falls, were injured, along with three children ranging from age 6 to 14. The children were riding in the bed of the truck, said WSP communications officer Sue Bula.

“They were really lucky,” she said. “I’m guessing they were not going that fast.”

No one was wearing a seat belt.

A 6-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl were taken to Sacred Heart by MedStar “as a precaution.” The other four passengers were transported to Newport Hospital.

None of the injuries appeared life threatening, Bula said.

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