Male bicyclist dies after being hit on Division Street bridge

A car struck and killed a bicyclist on the Division Street bridge late Monday night.

Spokane police have booked Todd R. Bush, 36, into the Spokane County Jail on suspicion of vehicular homicide.

Witnesses saw Bush’s vehicle swerve abruptly and drive up on the curb on the east side of the bridge, hitting a bicycle, court documents say. One witness told police Bush’s vehicle was sparking before the collision.

The collision happened around 11 p.m. A Spokane Police Department news release identified the bicyclist only as a “male victim.”

After Bush continued north on Divison Street to North River Drive before pulling over, court documents say.

An investigating officer performed several field sobriety test and saw Bush had difficulty balancing on one leg and walking in a straight line. The officer collected blood for a drug test after receiving a search warrant and believed Bush’s behavior showed he might be under the influence of a nervous system depressant, like a sedative, tranquilizer or opioid, court documents say.

Police officers and Spokane Fire Department personnel performed first aid on the bicyclist, who was then taken to the hospital. He later died from his injuries.

Division Street northbound from Spokane Falls Boulevard to North River Drive was shut down for several hours while detectives investigated the accident.