CHENEY — A local man will be arraigned for vehicular assault for his involvement in an Aug. 17 crash.
Balwinder S. Lidhar, 57, was arrested on First Street for driving under the influence and vehicular assault after colliding with a motorcyclist later identified as Chancy Laughlin, 45, on First Street, documents said.
At the scene of the collision, Lidhar reported to the responding officer that he had been northbound on First Street when he attempted to make a left-hand turn onto K Street, records show.
After initiating the turn, Lidhar said he saw that a motorcycle was traveling in the oncoming lane and, thinking the motorcyclist would go around him, Lidhar stopped in the middle of the southbound lane, documents show.
Instead of going around, Laughlin collided with the driver’s side of Lidhar’s Nissan Armada at a high rate of speed, records show.
Witnesses interviewed by Cheney Police said Laughlin had been traveling over the speed limit on both Interstate 90 and First Street before the collision, records show.
Laughlin was transported to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane with serious, but non-life threatening injuries.
Lidhar submitted to a breathalyzer test at the scene, records show, noting he had a blood-alcohol content of 0.145.
He was informed he was under arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol and was then taken to the Cheney police station, records show.
Lidhar is not listed in the Spokane County Jail roster and court documents state that he is scheduled to be arraigned Aug. 30.
Lucas is a former Cheney Free Press managing editor. He is a nationally published author who contributes regularly to several publications across the country.
Reader Comments(0)