Impairment suspected in Spokane Valley pedestrian collision

The driver suspected of seriously injuring a teenage pedestrian in Spokane Valley last night may have been impaired, the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Wednesday.

A 59-year-old driver hit the 15-year-old boy around 5 p.m. Tuesday in the 11900 block of East Mansfield Avenue, the release said. He was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries and was in surgery Tuesday night.

The boy was suspected of vandalizing a laundry room at the Pinecroft Trailer Court, the release said. A few minutes later after the vandalism was reported, the boy ran into the street. He was running north across Mansfield when he was hit by a car traveling west.

The driver has not been charged, but Sheriff’s Office deputies are continuing to investigate.