In brief: Man killed in SUV rollover
A Spokane man was killed when his sport utility vehicle rolled north of Spokane early Sunday.
An Avista utility crew found the body of Rodney A. Materne Sr., 45, about 8:30 a.m., the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office reported.
Materne had been southbound on Market Street just north of Lincoln Road when his 1988 Suzuki Samurai left the road and rolled several times. Materne, who was not wearing a seat belt, was thrown from the vehicle, according to the report.
Materne was driving well above the 35 mph speed limit, deputies said. An autopsy will be performed today.
– Kevin Graman
Three homeless after house fire
A Sunday morning fire, probably caused by cooking oil left heating on a stove, left three people homeless and caused about $30,000 to a Spokane home, fire officials said.
About 34 Spokane firefighters in 12 vehicles responded to the fire at 3908 E. Second Ave. to find heavy smoke billowing from the one-story, single-family home. The two men and one woman who lived there had fled after being awakened by the smoke, fire officials said.
There was no battery in the home’s smoke detector, firefighters said.
Fire crews extinguished the flames in about 10 minutes, but not before the kitchen and an adjacent utility room had been charred. There was also extensive smoke damage to the home.
The Red Cross is finding housing for the residents.
– Kevin Graman
Republic, Wash.
Hikers rescued after long night
Two hikers were rescued Saturday morning from the Colville National Forest after making a cell phone call to report that they were tired, cold and disoriented on a trail near Sherman Pass, according to Ferry County Search and Rescue.
The two Colville men, both in their 30s, were caught in a storm at sunset Friday with temperatures in the low teens and gusting winds on the trail to Snow Peak Cabin, a search and rescue spokesman said.
After calling Ferry County dispatch about 10 p.m., the men sheltered in sleeping bags under the limbs of a large tree, set a flashing beacon and waited for help.
“Anyone can get lost in the woods, but survival and a successful rescue is the result of using common sense, planning ahead and being prepared,” said Steve Anthes, information officer for search and rescue.
The rescuers found the two about one mile below Snow Peak Cabin and brought them to the Sherman Pass trailhead at 5 a.m. Saturday.
– Kevin Graman
BOISE
Crash kills couple, injures three
An elderly couple was killed and three others were injured in a two-car accident near Garden City on Saturday, Ada County sheriff’s officials said.
Investigators said a GMC pickup was headed west on State Street just after 11 a.m. when a 1998 Lexus pulled in front of it and the vehicles collided.
The two rear seat passengers in the Lexus were ejected through the back window and pronounced dead at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, the sheriff’s office said.
– Associated Press