By JOHN McCALLUM
Editor
High speed and alcohol may have played a part in the death of a Spokane man last Wednesday, Oct. 7.
Cpl. Dave Thornburg of the Spokane County Sheriff's Office reported that the man, James C. Johnson, was traveling eastbound on Williams Lake Road late Wednesday afternoon when he failed to negotiate the “T” intersection with Rock Lake Road and struck the embankment on the road's east side.
Evidence gathered at the site suggest Johnson may have been traveling at speeds in excess of 80 mph in the 45 mph zone, drifted onto the right shoulder for about 150 feet, then overcorrected and went into a side slide. The vehicle, a 2003 Honda Accord, slid sideways through the intersection, marked with a “Stop” sign, and struck the embankment, sending the car end-over-end, eventually coming to rest on its top.
Johnson was trapped inside by his seatbelt. A woman informed police of the accident at 5:58 p.m. First responders reported smelling alcoholic beverage while extracting Johnson from the vehicle, but blood test results are several weeks away.
Johnson died at the scene. Sheriff's Office spokesman Cpl. Dave Reagan confirmed Monday that Johnson was from Spokane, saying his driver's license indicated an address near the Hangman Valley Golf Course. Johnson's family told investigators he had been winterizing a cabin and boat at Williams Lake earlier that afternoon.
John McCallum can be reached at [email protected]
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