Cat food spilled in early morning I-90 crash will go to SCRAPS

A non-injury collision involving two semi trucks seven miles west of Spokane early Friday ended up a boon for the area’s homeless cats. At least four pallets worth of cat food were recovered around Interstate 90 by Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Services workers following the collision, which was reported just after midnight near exit 272. The Washington State Patrol reported the roadway was clear at 11:30 a.m. The tow truck company called in to move the semis notified SCRAPS of the incident, and volunteers were sent to the scene of the crash to stack the canned foot onto pallets that were then trucked to the facility at 6815 E. Trent Ave. “We got a lot, and it’s kind of gourmet cat food,” said Nancy Hill, director of SCRAPS. “Our guys are going to be happy about that.” The Washington State Patrol said Timothy Akers, 50, was driving west in a 2007 Freightliner shortly after midnight when he lost control of his vehicle and went off the road. The trailer of his vehicle hit the trailer of a 2009 International, also headed west. Debris from the Freightliner hit a westbound passenger car. Akers suffered minor injuries and was taken to Deaconess Medical Center. The other two drivers were not injured and drove their vehicles from the scene. The Freightliner had to be towed. Negligent driving charges are pending against Akers, the WSP said. The cat food delivery to SCRAPS comes just as the shelter begins its busy season with incoming cats, Hill said. SCRAPS sent 49 cats via truck to the west side of the state for adoption on Friday, she said. “It’s hard to adopt your way out of an overpopulation problem,” she said. The WSP announced the roadway was fully clear around 11:30 a.m.