Rathdrum woman dies in crash on westbound I-90 at Liberty Lake

A Rathdrum woman died in a crash on westbound Interstate 90 Thursday morning when a street sweeping truck changed lanes and shoved her into a concrete barrier.

Laura A. Lafferty, 71, was driving in the left lane near the Liberty Lake exit when she was hit on the right side by the sweeper, driven by 31-year-old Steven. D. Roche of Spokane. After her car was shoved into the concrete barrier in the median the car climbed up the barrier and struck a support column for the overpass, according to the Washington State Patrol.

While Lafferty’s car was airborne it was hit by another vehicle driven by 32-year-old Jasmine J. Kuhnhausen of Coeur d’Alene. Kuhnhausen and Roche were not injured. A passenger in the street sweeper, 41-year-old Matthew J. Miller of Spokane, was also uninjured.

Lafferty’s passenger, 50-year-old Richard S. Lafferty, was taken to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center. He was wearing a seat belt, but Laura Lafferty was not, according to the WSP.

Both lanes of westbound I-90 were shut down for several hours while the crash was cleared. The crash is under investigation and charges are pending.

The WSP originally identified Miller as the driver of the street sweeper. The information was updated late Thursday afternoon.