Driver dies after losing control of his vehicle

A driver died Friday after hitting a pedestrian in northwest Spokane just before noon, and the pedestrian was listed in critical condition.

The driver was headed south on Assembly Street just south of Wellesley Avenue when he lost control of his car, apparently after having a medical problem, police said. The car hit a female pedestrian and a sign for an espresso stand on the west side of Assembly.

Firefighters said that when they arrived, both were in critical condition. They were transported by ambulance within 15 minutes.

One person was taken to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, the other to Providence Holy Family Hospital.

Assembly between Wellesley and where it becomes Northwest Boulevard was closed for several hours while traffic investigators examined the scene, said Spokane police Officer Teresa Fuller. The area reopened about 3 p.m.

The vehicle ended up in a yard.

The accident was one of several involving pedestrians and vehicles in the area late Thursday and into Friday. It was unclear whether rainy conditions contributed to the incidents, but officials cautioned drivers to slow down, especially at night when glare from the wet roads makes pedestrian crossings hard to spot.

In northeast Spokane, a man running across Crestline Avenue against a red light was struck by a vehicle Thursday night when the driver was unable to stop, Spokane police said.

The pedestrian was taken to a Spokane hospital with a head injury that officers described as not life-threatening.

Police determined the accident was apparently the pedestrian’s fault. The driver was not speeding and had a green light, they said.

Meanwhile, Spokane Valley police are looking for the driver of a truck who sped away after hitting a 20-year-old man on a skateboard late Thursday night

Derek Maltone, 20, was in serious condition at a hospital after being hit by the truck about 11 p.m.

A red pickup was westbound on Mansfield Avenue when investigators say Maltone ignored a stop sign at the intersection with Cherry Street and was hit. Police determined Maltone was at fault, but they would still like to locate the driver.

The truck is a midsize pickup, similar to a Ford Ranger, Toyota Tacoma or Mazda. It is likely to have some noticeable damage to the front end, police said. Anyone with information can call Crime Check at (509) 459-2233.