News Briefs

Fatal crash in south Spokane County claims 19-year-old

A 19-year-old woman was killed in a single-vehicle rollover accident early May 17 in south Spokane County.

According to a Spokane County Sheriff’s Office news release, at approximately 7:40 a.m., deputies responded to a single vehicle rollover crash in the area of South Cheney Plaza Road. and South Rock Lake Road. They received information the female driver was unresponsive and good Samaritans, who stopped to help, had begun CPR. 

The driver, the sole occupant of the vehicle, was transported from the scene to a local hospital by Life Flight, but later succumbed to her injuries. 

Initial information shows the vehicle was northbound when it drifted right, then swerved back across the lanes of travel, left the roadway, and rolled. The driver was wearing her seat belt on and investigators believe speed was a factor in this fatal crash.

Dye’s bill helps Martin Hall

Commissioners involved in a nine-county consortium received relief with a bill sponsored by 9th District Rep. Mary Dye (R-Pomery) and signed into law May 17 by Gov. Jay Inslee.

House Bill 1983 provides new flexibility for member counties using Martin Hall Juvenile Detention Facility, based in Medical Lake. Commissioners sought the legislative change to ensure the facility remains viable during a time when the demand for beds has dropped.

Martin Hall, located on the Eastern State Hospital campus, has met the juvenile detention needs of Adams, Asotin, Douglas, Ferry, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Spokane and Whitman counties since 1996.

According to a news release, Dye’s bill reduces the population requirements to 200,000, allowing Spokane County an option to reduce their bed allocation and provide space for other counties or tribes wishing to utilize the facility. By changing the population mandate, the Martin Hall consortium could seek new partners from other rural counties and tribes to use the vacant space, providing Spokane County finacial savings with its juvenile justice system.

The law is scheduled to go into effect later this summer on July 23.