Troopers: Alcohol or drugs likely cause of crash
FOUR LAKES - A Spokane man is facing a possible vehicular assault charge after allegedly driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs and causing a crash on westbound Interstate 90.
Christian A. Cook, 26, of Spokane, was booked into the Spokane County Jail at 7:50 a.m. Monday, Aug. 1, in connection with the crash.
As of press time, he was being held without bail, jail records show.
The Washington State Patrol said the cause of the crash at 2:39 a.m. Monday was likely drugs or alcohol.
According to the patrol, Cook was westbound in a 2015 Dodge Dart when his vehicle drifted from the passing lane into the right lane, where it collided with a 2020 Volvo truck and 2020 utility trailer.
The westbound truck was driven by Frank A. Mass, 46, of Miami, Fla., the patrol reported.
The car struck the truck in to the front left, sending the semi and its trailer onto the shoulder, where it struck a state Department of Transportation fence, overturned and came to rest on the driver's side blocking the adjacent Geiger Road, the patrol said.
Cook's Dodge careened into the median, where it came to rest, the patrol said.
Cook was not injured; it's unknown if he was wearing a seatbelt, the patrol said.
Mass was injured and transported to a Spokane area hospital, the patrol said. He was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.
The overturned truck and trailer completely blocked Geiger Road for several hours.
Roger Harnack is the owner/publisher of Free Press Publishing. Having grown up Benton City, Roger is an award-winning journalist, columnist, photographer, editor and publisher. He's one of only two editorial/commentary writers from Washington state to ever receive the international Golden Quill. Roger is dedicated to the preservation of local media, and the voice it retains for Eastern Washington.
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