In brief: Driver dies in Spokane crash
A driver was killed and a pedestrian was injured in separate crashes early Saturday, Spokane police reported in a news release.
A single-car crash was reported near Sunset Boulevard and Government Way at 12:45 a.m. Saturday, police said.
The driver in the crash was declared dead at the scene, according to the Spokane Police Department. The person’s identity will be released by the Spokane County Medical Examiner after an autopsy has been completed. A power pole was damaged in the crash.
About two hours later, a car hit a pedestrian near Nevada Street and Queen Avenue. The pedestrian’s injuries were believed to be life threatening, but the person’s condition was upgraded at a hospital.
The driver of the car called 911 for help and remained on the scene, police said. The crash is under investigation.
Anyone who has information about either of the two incidents is asked to call Crime Check at (509) 456-2233.
Theft case still open on Shock players
The spokesman for the Las Vegas Police Department said Friday that investigators had not completed the investigation into alleged theft by members of the Spokane Shock football team.
Michael Rodriguez said his department does not release reports on cases until suspects are charged.
“The case is currently under investigation,” he said.
Lindsay Preisinger and Blair Hollis, both of Kansas City, Missouri, said they had about $600 stolen from their purses on May 23 after meeting several Shock players at the Gold Spike lounge in Las Vegas.
A detective described to the women a video that allegedly shows one of the Shock players taking the money from the purses and handing some of the cash to two other players.
“The last time I checked, the detective was still working” on the case, Rodriguez said.
Tire on SUV blows, causing injury crash
A driver from Cheney was injured Saturday afternoon after she lost control of her SUV when one of her tires blew, the Washington State Patrol reported.
Ashley B. Snyder, 23, was driving west on Interstate 90 in a 1997 Jeep Cherokee when the SUV struck a guardrail after her right front tire blew at the U.S. Highway 195 exit, the WSP said in a news release. She was transported to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, where she was reported to be in stable condition Saturday night.
Pingpong may help turn tables on crime
SEATTLE – The city of Seattle is wondering if free pingpong in its parks may help stop crime.
KING-TV reported the city’s first experiment with a free pingpong table seems to be making a difference.
A pingpong table was installed at Hing Hay Park in Chinatown four years ago. Since then, crime data from the Seattle Police Department suggest incidents in the area seem to be decreasing over time, although there have been ups and downs. There were 46 crime incidents in the area in 2009 and 16 in 2014.
No one is willing to draw a direct connection between the pingpong table and the crime statistics, but the city has installed four other tables since then. Officials believe the positive community activity could be crowding out some of the crime.