Spokane Valley DUI accident knocks out power

Emergency crews are working to reopen lanes of traffic in the area of Pines Road and Desmet Avenue in Spokane Valley after an early morning hit-and-run accident. A release from the Washington State Patrol said Andrew Gardner, 21, was charged with driving under the influence and hit-and-run and was taken to Sacred Heart Medical Center. Gardner was driving north on Pines on the left side of the road just before 6 a.m. and struck the side of a northbound vehicle in the right lane, the release said. Gardner then lost control of his pickup truck, went off the road and struck an electrical pole. He was wearing a seat belt. The driver of the other vehicle, a Chevrolet Cobalt, was not injured. KHQ reported witnesses told patrol the pickup truck was going upwards of 100 mph. After the crash, Gardner fled on foot before patrol officers apprehended him, the release said. Power lines were down across Pines Road. Power is still out to about 280 customers. Southbound lanes of Pines are open but northbound lanes will be closed for up to two hours, the patrol said.