Cheney man charged with vehicular assault in Mead-area crash

A Cheney man involved in a one-car crash near Mead has been charged with vehicular assault in the incident.

According to a Feb. 15 Washington State Patrol press memo, 29-year-old Miller S. Vanstone of Cheney was westbound on State Route 206 near milepost six, between Halliday and Madison roads, about 5 p.m. Feb. 14 in a 2006 Mazda Speed when the vehicle left the roadway. The vehicle left the roadway to the right, struck a Department of Transportation guardrail and went down an embankment.

The Mazda continued down the embankment where it went airborne, crossed a creek and came to rest on the opposite side partially submerged. Both Vanstone and his passenger, 27-year-old Kristen R. Bailey of Spokane, were injured in the crash and transported to Sacred Heart Medical Center.

Neither occupant was wearing a seatbelt. Vanstone’s vehicle was impounded and transported to the State Patrol District 4 bullpen for holding pending an investigation.

The State Patrol listed the cause of the crash as improper lane travel and driving under the influence. Vanstone was charged with DUI and vehicular assault.

John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].