At least one killed when cars hit moose

Interstate 90 was closed and at least one person was killed at the Washington-Idaho border Wednesday night after several cars hit a moose.

The Washington State Patrol said three cars in eastbound and westbound lanes crashed into the moose, which was running across the highway about 9:15 p.m., just west of Stateline. One motorist reportedly was ejected into the freeway median.

“Sounds like a car eastbound hit it, then another westbound, and then another westbound,” Trooper Troy Briggs said.

Emergency dispatch reports said one person required CPR on the roadway.

At least one crash victim was flown to a Spokane hospital by helicopter. Liberty Lake police, the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office and the Idaho State Police were assisting at the scene about three miles east of Liberty Lake.

It was unknown late Wednesday how long the freeway would be closed. Officers had established detours around the crash scene as traffic backed up in both directions.

Sara Leaming

Authorities say man kidnapped wife, friend

A 36-year-old Deer Park man was arrested Wednesday after allegedly kidnapping his estranged wife and her male companion and trying to push the man off the U.S. Highway 395 bridge at Wandermere, sheriff’s deputies said.

David E. Eply was booked into Spokane County Jail on two counts of first-degree kidnapping and one count of attempted first-degree murder.

The woman said she and her friend were leaving Cinola Restaurant and Lounge, 14710 N. Newport Highway in Mead, on Tuesday night, when they were surprised by a man she identified as Eply hiding in the rear seat of her car, Sgt. Dave Reagan said.

He brandished a handgun and ordered the woman to drive across the North Side until they reached the Wandermere bridge. The suspect allegedly tried to toss the man over the side. The woman ran. The male escaped and ran to a residence to call for help, Reagan said. Eply was arrested at a convenience store at Newport Highway and Mount Spokane Park Drive near the restaurant.

Mike Prager

spokane

Hession steps down from museum post

Dennis Hession resigned Wednesday as the interim CEO of the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture amid a budget crisis.

“For budgetary reasons, the board felt that we needed to do this,” said Hession, Spokane’s mayor in 2006 and 2007.

The museum faces serious state budget cuts and a drop in donations.

Hession was named the interim CEO in February 2008, while a search was made for a permanent museum head. Last summer, after no suitable candidates were found, the board asked Hession to stay on as the interim head. No end date was named.

Board member Ron Rector will take over as interim CEO while the search continues.

To deal with the budget crisis, Hession earlier proposed laying off 14 employees – about 30 percent of the staff. He said the board has not accepted his proposal.

Jim Kershner