Spokane sheriff’s deputy hit by SUV in north Spokane County while responding to 911 call

A Spokane County Sheriff’s deputy’s vehicle was hit by an SUV at the intersection of U.S. Highway 2 and Farwell Road on Tuesday morning.

Deputy Julian Covella, 33, was headed eastbound on Farwell at about 10:30 a.m. with his lights and sirens running when his patrol vehicle was hit by a vehicle driven by 79-year-old Howard Auringer headed north on Highway 2. Auringer had a green light, Trooper Wayne Turner said, and according to witnesses, was not able to hear or see the deputy’s vehicle.

Auringer was taken to the hospital for medical treatment, Trooper Wayne Turner said. Mark Gregory, spokesman for the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, said Covella was not injured.

Covella was responding to a report of shots fired on Newport Highway at the time of the collision, Gregory said. Gregory said witnesses described seeing Covella’s vehicle slow to about 10 mph as he approached the intersection.

Neither driver was issued a traffic citation.